LIBRARY 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

SANTA  BARBARA 


PRESENTED  BY 

GERALD  HOWLAND 


RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 


Richard   to   Minna 
Wagner 

LETTERS  TO   HIS   FIRST  WIFE 
TRANSLATED,  PREFACED,  ETC. 

By  William  Ashton  Ellis 


VOL.   I 


WITH    PORTRAIT   OF    MINNA   WAGNER 


New   York:    CHARLES   SCRIBNER'S   SONS 
153-157   Fifth    Avenue         ^         4         £         *         1909 


All  rights  reserved. 


TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE 

IN  my  Introduction  to  the  letters  of  RICHARD  WAGNER  To 
MATHILDE  WESENDONCK  (Eng.  ed.  1905)  I  dealt  so  fully 
with  the  home-relations  of  his  first  marriage,  that,  apart 
from  the  more  intimate  light  now  thrown  on  them  by  the 
present  collection  itself,  I  need  do  little  more  than  recall 
to  mind  the  barest  skeleton  of  material  facts. 

WILHELM  RICHARD  WAGNER,  youngest  of  nine 
children,  was  born  to  his  father,  Magistrates'  Clerk  at 
Leipzig,*  May  22,  1813.  At  the  age  of  21,  beyond  a  few 
smaller  pieces,  there  stood  to  his  credit  four  overtures, 
one  of  them  performed  once  at  the  Leipzig  Gewandhaus, 
a  Symphony,  likewise  played  once  there,  and  an  opera, 
Die  Fccn,  destined  never  to  be  mounted  until  five  years 
after  his  death  ;  he  had  held  the  position  of  chorus-master 
at  the  Wurzburg  theatre  for  the  best  part  of  a  twelve- 
month, and  just  secured  that  of  operatic  conductor  at 


*  Even  though  a  passage  in  one  of  Richard  Wagner's  own  "  family 
letters"  of  considerably  later  date  than  the  present  collection  suggests 
a  sentimental  preference  for  the  idea  that  Ludvvig  Geyer,  his  mother's 
second  husband  and  father  of  sister  Cecilie  (to  whom  the  letter  is 
addressed),  may  have  been  his  actual  progenitor — a  fancy  first  blurted  into 
the  public  ear  as  fact  by  F.  Nietzsche  a  few  years  after  the  master's 
death — the  best  authorities  have  never  lent  it  serious  credence ;  the  like- 
ness to  his  eldest  brother,  Albert,  and  through  him  to  his  paternal  uncle, 
is  far  too  striking  for  such  a  theory,  whereas  there  is  not  one  line  of 
resemblance  in  the  portraits  of  either  Albert  or  Richard  Wagner  to  the 
almost  effeminate  features  of  their  artist  stepfather. — W.  A.  E, 


vi  TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE 

Magdeburg,  entering  on  his  duties  in  that  town  in  the 
autumn  of  1834.  Here  he  first  met  "Minna,"  a  pretty 
actress  then  engaged  for  ' '  young  heroine ' '  parts  at  the 
same  theatre. 

CHRISTINE  WILHELMINE  PLANER,  described  as  her 
parents'  "3rd  daughter,"  was  born  at  Oederan,  half-way 
between  Dresden  and  Zwickau,  the  5th  of  September 
1809,  her  father  being  a  mechanic  of  some  sort  and,  as  we 
learn  from  page  496,  so  ignorantly  opposed  to  the  march 
of  education  that  he  refused  to  have  his  daughters  taught 
to  write.  Though  Minna,  as  she  always  was  called,  must 
have  acquired  that  elementary  art  in  his  despite  at  some 
period  of  her  adolescence,  or  she  could  scarcely  have 
obtained  the  various  stage  engagements  we  know  she  did, 
yet  this  early  illiterateness  is  of  equal  ultimate  importance 
with  her  three-and-a-half-year  seniority  to  the  husband 
she  married  at  Konigsberg,  while  he  was  temporarily  out 
of  employment,  on  the  24th  of  November  1836.  In  letter 
172— which  I  strongly  recommend  for  prompt  perusal — 
we  shall  find  Richard  Wagner  alluding  to  his  "  young 
wife, ' '  whilst  certain  other  references  in  these  letters  (e.  g. , 
no.  239)  suggest  that  even  so  late  as  the  early  'sixties  she 
left  him  under  the  delusion  that  her  birth  had  occurred 
in  the  year  1813,  as  stated  on  the  marriage  certificate  ; 
which  would  have  made  her  a  few  months  younger 
than  her  husband,  and  only  just  turned  23,  instead  of 
the  actual  relation  of  27^-  years  on  Minna's  side  to 
23^-  on  Richard's.  A  man  of  his  eternal  "juvenility" 
(ff'  P-  5°5)  ollght  never  to  have  married  at  so  "  in- 
experienced "  an  age  (p.  502),  as  he  recognised  himself  in 


TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE  vii 

later  life  ;  and  when  he  did  marry,  his  bride  should  have 
been  some  years  his  junior,  not  one  whose  character  and 
narrow  views  were  already  set  past  all  transmuting.  But 
a  still  greater  misfortune  was  the  barrenness  of  this  wed- 
lock ;  there  was  nothing  in  the  home,  beyond  the  husband, 
to  keep  or  turn  the  woman's  heart  young,  and  it  is  plain 
as  day  that  from  the  first  she  arrogated  to  herself  the  part 
of  mentor. 

True,  quite  early  in  the  history  of  Richard  and  Minna 
Wagner's  wedded  life  we  catch  glimpses  of  a  juvenile 
third  member  of  the  household,  and  her  name  is  of 
constant  recurrence  down  to  the  end  of  the  'fifties  ;  but 
how  little  this  NETTE,  or  Natalie,  contributed  toward 
brightening  the  home,  at  least  for  its  head,  these  pages 
will  eventually  reveal.  Strange  to  say,  however,  in  them- 
selves they  never  afford  us  the  smallest  direct  hint  as  to 
who  this  Nette  really  was.  Once,  and  only  once,  Wagner 
refers  to  "  my  N."  (p.  23),  but  that  is  obviously  a  mere 
faqon  dc  parlcr ;  for  he  follows  it  up  in  a  sense  that 
proves  Minna  the  young  girl's  accepted  guardian,  whilst 
we  know  for  certain,  even  did  these  letters  not  clearly 
imply  it,  that  Nette  was  no  blood-relation  of  his.  Her 
relationship  to  Minna  is  much  more  puzzling.  Though 
Richard  writes  to  his  half-sister  Cecilie  at  the  same 
conjuncture,  that  a  provisional  home  has  been  "  found  for 
Natalie  with  her  sister  Charlotte,"  and  six  years  later 
denotes  her  to  friend  Uhlig  "my  sister-in-law,"  yet  not 
one  of  the  numberless  allusions  in  our  present  collection 
styles  Natalie  either  "your  sister"  or — if  I  may  broach 
a  now  current  tradition— "  your  child"  ;  the  nearest  we 


viii  TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE 

get  to  a  suggestion  of  kinship  is  that  on  page  592,  where 
Minna  is  told  that,  "  if  one  could  manage  with  N.,"  and 
"  provided  it  were  offered  her,"  this  young  person  "  could 
have  no  other  choice  whatever,  than  to  attend  to  you 
and  share  our  home.  In  the  case  supposed,  that  is  her 
plainly-destined  natural  vocation,  from  which  she  at 
utmost  could  escape  by  marriage."  But  not  even  Minna, 
indisputably  her  relative  in  some  way,  ' '  could  manage 
with  Nette  ' '  for  long  at  a  stretch  when  the  girl  turned  to 
termagant  woman  ;  and  as  to  exactly  what  became  of 
Nette  after  the  second  migration  to  Paris  we  are.  left  in 
darkness,  albeit  Minna's  husband  magnanimously  under- 
took to  pay  a  modest  annual  stipend  to  this  Natalie  Planer 
who  had  come  into  the  world  at  least  a  year  or  two  before 
he  first  met  Minna  herself. 

In  the  same  connection,  another  reference  in  the  first 
edition  of  my  Introduction  aforesaid  needs  a  trifling 
amendment.  There  I  called  Natalie  "  the  youngest  of 
the  old  Planers'  three  daughters  "  ;  but,  whether  she  was 
their  actual  daughter  or  not,  it  is  now  evident  that, 
besides  a  married  son  who  died  in  early  manhood  (pp.  29 
and  409),  they  had  four  other  children  :  viz.  our  Minna  and 
her  sisters  Charlotte  Troger,  Amalie  von  Meek,  and  "Jette," 
the  last-named  apparently  dying  a  spinster  (p.  116). 

Beyond  the  above  small  corrections,  there  is  not  a 
syllable  to  retract  from  that  Introduction  ;  in  fact,  I  can 
honestly  say  that  our  present  collection  of  letters  proves 
me  rather  to  have  under-rated  Wagner's  kindness  and 
affection  toward  a  helpmate  who  really  would  have  been 
happier,  not  "  with  a  lesser  man,"  but  with  a  sterner  and 


TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE  ix 

less  indulgent.  Had  she  only  chosen,  no  childless  union 
could  ever  have  been  cheerier  than  theirs  ;  whilst,  the  first 
promptings  of  a  natural  jealousy  once  subdued,  even  the 
blameless  episode  with  Madame  Wesendonck  might  have 
shewn  poor  peevish  Minna  what  a  treasure  of  love  she 
had  spurned  at  her  feet,  and  how  she  had  only  to  stretch 
forth  her  hand,  to  gather  it  into  her  bosom, — for  her 
husband's  letters  to  her  from  after  that  episode  should 
have  melted  any  save  a  heart  of  stone.  No  :  it  certainly 
was  not  the  fault  of  RICHARD  Wagner,  that  this  first 
marriage  of  his  became  more  and  more  of  a  chastisement 
as  years  rolled  on,  till  finally  that  year  which  might  have 
seen  the  joyful  celebration  of  a  Silver  Wedding,  saw 
nothing  but  one  forlorn  attempt  to  re-establish  a  hearth 
the  foundations  of  which  had  been  sapped  by  the  wife's 
own  lack  of  sympathy  long,  long  before  those  emotional 
events  which  led  to  abandonment  of  the  Asyl  near 
Zurich.  In  January  1866,  just  three  weeks  before  Minna's 
sudden  demise  after  a  virtual  separation  of  something  like 
four  years,  Wagner  tells  his  eldest  surviving  sister,  Luise 
Brockhaus,  that  he  has  begun  to  write  his  private 
Memoirs,  and  already  reached  his  one-and-twentieth  year 
with  them  :  "  Down  to  that  epoch  in  my  life  I  have  been 
able  to  employ  a  cheerful  tone,  even  while  recording  my 
errors  ;  from  that  time  forth  (and  this  is  still  reserved  for 
me  !)  my  life  becomes  serious  and  bitter,  and  I'm  afraid 
the  cheerful  tone  will  now  forsake  me, — my  marriage 
looms  !  Not  a  soul  knows  what  I  have  suffered  through 
that  !  "  How  wise  was  his  friend  Pusinelli,  the  Dresden 
physician  who  had  studied  Minna's  mental  condition  at 


x  TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE 

close  quarters,  when  lie  set  his  face  against  this  ill- 
matched  pair's  reunion  in  1859  (letter  194)  !  With  a  wife 
who,  after  an  absence  of  fifteen  months,  could  suspect  her 
husband  of  merely  "studying  his  own  convenience"  in 
an  itinerary  thoughtfully  drawn  up  for  her  journey  to 
Paris  in  comfort  (see  pp.  596,  599),  what  hope  was  there 
of  any  further  dwelling  together  in  peace  and  concord  ? 
That  one  little  trait  is  even  more  convincing  than  any 
of  the  big. 

Let  it  not  be  presupposed,  however,  that  these 
volumes  constitute  a  chronicle  of  marital  laments  and 
reproaches  ;  only  at  rare  intervals,  thrown  off  his  kindly 
guard  by  some  particularly  wounding  "thrust"  (cf. 
p.  692),  does  Richard  Wagner  lay  his  bosom  bare  :  but 
then  we  see,  as  under  an  electric  flash,  the  misery 
inflicted  on  a  temperament  so  keenly  sensitive  by  a  wife 
who  had  next  to  no  personal  knowledge  of  "  the  feeling 
of  true  love  "  (cf.  pp.  502,  715).  I  have  already  sug- 
gested that  letter  172  should  be  read  first  of  this  whole 
collection  :  it  gives  an  illuminating  glimpse  of  their 
courtship  and  marriage,  with  its  first  fatal  breach,  in 
language  whose  every  sentence  bears  the  stamp  of 
charitably-mitigated  truth.  Then  let  the  reader  take 
letter  3,  and  he  will  find  the  story  briefly  brought,  in 
more  attractive  colours,  down  to  the  commencement  of 
the  Dresden  period,  when  Minna  suddenly  shews  restive- 
ness  again,  perhaps  to  be  explained  by  fears  for  her 
own  health.  Letter  36,  with  which  should  be  combined 
letter  28  of  eight  months  earlier,  will  then  carry  the 
tale  of  domestic  variance  (under  Natalie's  malign  in- 


TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE  xi 

fluence  now,  be  it  said)  down  to  the  first  year  of  exile, 
more  than  a  twelvemonth  before  the  Wesendoncks  set 
foot  in  Zurich  ;  whilst  letter  46 — written  at  the  time 
when  the  new-fledged  plan  of  the  RING  DES  NIBELUNGEN 
was  under  discussion  on  paper  with  Liszt  and  Uhlig, 
and  must  have  been  mooted  by  mouth  to  the  wife, 
though  it  is  conspicuous  by  its  total  absence  from  the 
Albisbrunn  group — will  shew  that  the  same  domestic 
opposition  to  all  his  views  and  projects,  which  had 
embittered  the  latter  half  of  the  Dresden  period,  is 
still  rife  at  Zurich. 

Letter  50,  of  July  1853,  is  matched  by  letter  71, 
of  Sept.  '54,  and  letters  82  and  90,  April  and  May 
'55  (from  London),  with  the  same  tale  of  doubt  and 
suspicion  in  quite  ordinary  matters  on  Minna's  part. 
Then  we  come  to  no.  104,  with  its  revelation  of  such 
"eternal  scoldings"  between  Minna  and  Nette,  that 
Richard  insists  on  the  latter's  departure, — -a  letter  which 
should  be  taken  in  conjunction  with  no.  195,  of  three 
years  later,  when  Minna  actually  proposes  re-introducing 
that  undesirable  female  into  the  household  by  bringing 
her  to  Paris,  but  luckily  changes  her  unstable  mind. 
The  next  landmark  of  importance,  and  indeed  of  such 
importance  as  to  form  a  watershed,  is  supplied  by  letters 
1 20  to  123  :  a  specific  jealousy  foretokened  in  no.  88, 
of  three  years  previously,  though  meantime  lulled  to 
rest,  has  broken  out  at  last  in  fullest  fury  ;  and  how 
entirely  imbecile  was  Minna's  handling  of  a  very 
plausible  weapon,  is  proved  by  no.  134,  where  her 
husband  bids  her  "Be  gentle,  kind  and  patient;  you 


xii  TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE 

can't  believe  what  power  it  gives  you  over  me.  Your 
tears  and  laments  that  last  night  in  our  house  touched 
me  more  than  any  argument."  She  had  only  to  appeal 
to  his  pity,  and  no  more  devoted  husband  could  be 
found  on  earth,  as  evidenced  by  the  last  two  letters 
in  vol.  I.  ;  but  she  could  neither  forgive  nor  forget, 
except  her  own  shortcomings,  and  behind  the  whole 
remainder  of  the  correspondence — her  side  of  which  we 
can  '  reconstitute  '  almost  as  though  it  lay  before  us, 
especially  with  the  aid  of  those  few  letters  of  hers 
addressed  to  others  which  we  do  possess — there  lurks 
the  spectre  of  that  Asyl  episode,  ready  at  any  moment 
to  scare  away  a  patched-up  peace.  Thus  when  they 
came  together  in  Paris  again,  it  was  a  foregone  conclusion 
that  domestic  concord  would  never  last  for  long  ;  and 
to  what  a  terrible  pitch  the  poison  of  unreasoning 
jealousy  still  rankled  in  the  woman's  breast,  is  demon- 
strated by  that  profoundly  sad  and  eloquent  epistle  from 
Vienna  1861,  no.  217,  which  at  the  same  time  supplies 
the  last  possible  word  on  Richard  Wagner's  relations  with 
Mathilde  Wesendonck, — little  though  Minna  allowed  it 
to  pass  as  such,  as  will  be  seen  from  no.  247,  of  the 
ensuing  summer. 

If  letter  242  proves  that  even  in  the  matter  of  choice 
of  residence  the  wife's  social  tastes  were  no  longer 
compatible  with  the  husband's  creative  needs,  our  crucial 
no.  248  attests  that  after  her  ill-fated  flying  visit  to  his 
temporary  retreat  at  Biebrich,  end  of  winter  1861-2, 
Wagner's  farthest-sighted  friend  and  Minna's  doctor  saw 
still  more  plainly  than  himself  that  the  breach  had  now 


TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE  xiii 

become  irreparable.  And  yet  it  was  not  without  another 
desperate  effort,  November  1862,  between  letters  260  and 
261,  the  long-suffering  husband  finally  convinced  himself 
that  even  the  spending  of  two  nights  beneath  the  same 
roof  as  his  wife  spelt  ruin  to  his  peace  of  mind  hence- 
forth, the  devastation  of  his  art.  In  the  previous  May 
he  plaintively  had  told  her  :  "  My  child,  decidedly 
you  have  too  few  real  cares,  too  little  occupation,  since 
you  always  find  so  much  leisure  to  think  of  yourself 
and  wrongs  done  or  possibly  still  to  be  done  you,"  and 
entreated  her  not  to  be  "  for  ever  upsetting  the  mind  of 
your  husband,  who  does  not  belong  to  you  alone,  but 
to  his  art,  to  the  world  and  posterity  "  (pp.  736,  738)  ; 
yet  in  December  1862,  their  brief  Dresden  meeting  past, 
he  again  has  to  beg  her  :  "  Ah,  good  Minna,  you  really 
ought  to  take  a  little  thought  to  make  things  lighter 
for  me  .  .,  but  you  abide  by  a  constant  illusion  about  me 
and  my  mode  of  life,  from  which  nothing  seems  able  to 
tear  you  "  (p.  775)  ;  whilst  in  the  ensuing  month  the 
conclusive  situation  is  thus  summed  up  in  words 
impossible  for  any  unbiassed  reader  not  to  countersign  : 
"  That  you  should  always  put  the  worst  construction 
on  what  I  do  or  leave  undone,  as  also  on  my  motives 
for  it,  is  your  misfortune. ;  I  am  used  to  it.  But  how 
you  can  dream  of  drawing  me  to  you  thereby,  would  be 
a  marvel  to  anyone  who  did  not  know  you  "  (p.  7/8). 

There  was  one  excuse  for  Minna  ;  only  one.  Richard 
Wagner  repeatedly  advances  it,  but  nowhere  more 
heroically  than  in  that  dreary  Paris  winter  of  his  solitude 
when  the  signal  fiasco  of  his  French  Tannhanscr  had 


xiv  TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE 

been  capped  with  a  Viennese  frustration  of  his  certain 
hopes  of  Tristan,  and  he  was  already  engaged  on  the 
poem  for  a  u  lighter,  easier  work,"  Die  Meistersinger ,  to 
mend  his  lot  :  "  Allow  me  this  time,  surely,  to  excuse 
your  reprimand  on  the  sole  plea  that  you  still  are 
ailing  ;  for  which  I  profoundly  pity  you — and  more 
than  you'll  believe  !  "  (p.  691).  Her  health — his 
solicitude  for  which  is  testified  even  by  the  space  it 
fills  up  in  my  Index — had  gone  from  bad  to  worse 
in  one  direction,  that  of  uncontrollable  nerve-storms  : 
and  really  we  can  but  infer  that  her  reason  had 
begun  to  totter,  when  we  see  how  often  in  the  later 
years  she  reads  into  his  letters  the  diametric  opposite 
of  their  plain  and  obvious  meaning.  And  to  be  mated 
with  this  poor  wreck  and  wrecker,  was  the  fate  of 
the  genius  who  cries  from  that  forsaken  Paris  winter  : 
' '  A  quiet  home-life  !  ! — nothing  beyond  on  this  earth  ! — 
why  should  it  not  be  granted  me,  of  all  men,  who 
need  it  so  ?  "  (see  page  680)  ! — 

I  have  thus  drawn  attention  to  the  more  tragic 
passages  and  letters  in  our  collection  since  they  are 
liable  to  be  missed  on  a  mere  hasty  perusal,  buried  as 
they  often  are  beneath  a  mass  of  business  and  domestic 
details  of  great  biographic,  but  far  less  psychologic  or 
intellectual  interest  than  is  furnished  by  most  other 
published  volumes  of  the  master's  correspondence.  For, 
in  itself  it  is  symptomatic  of  the  recipient's  mental 
calibre,  that  her  husband  very  rarely  touches  deeper 
subjects  than  those  concerning  personal  relations  and 


TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE  xv 

worldly  fortunes  in  his  letters  to  Minna.  One  by  one, 
she  had  erected  a  pale  round  all  such  loftier  or  deeper 
topics,  until  we  find  him  writing  to  Cornelius  in  that 
letter  from  which  I  quote  on  pages  714-5  :  "  My  good 
will  was  so  great,  that  I  gladly  resumed  towards  her 
that  peculiarly  simpering  language  one  uses  to  a  child, 
and  listened  with  ostensible  interest  to  things  quite  off 
my  plane  and  often  most  distasteful  to  me."  We  see 
him  constantly  in  search  of  things  on  her  plane  where- 
with to  fill  those  copious  letters  she  manifestly  grumbled 
at  unless  they  brought  the  flattering  tribute  of  uncommon 
length.  Thus  the  gaiety  exhibited  is  often  forced,  and 
we  must  be  on  our  guard  against  taking  too  much  in 
earnest  many  a  remark  merely  meant  as  a  joke.  Yet 
there  are  two  letters,  seventeen  years  apart,  nos.  16 
and  205,  in  which  the  spontaneous  overflow  of  joy  is 
supremely  moving,  and  in  each  of  these  instances  the 
strongest  note  is  one  of  wistful  sorrow  that  the  wife 
should  not  be  at  his  side  to  share  it.  His  Flying 
Dutchman'' s  first  performance  in  Berlin,  his  own  first 
hearing  of  long-famous  Lohengrin,  are  the  occasions  of 
these  letters,  which  surely  none  can  read  with  eye 
unmoistened  or  heart  that  does  not  leap  out  to  their 
writer.  Yes,  reader,  neglect  awhile  my  previous  admo- 
nition, and  take  those  letters  first. 

A  word  in  conclusion  on  the  more  technical  aspect. 

The  German  issue  of  the  present  collection,  first 
published  March  last  year,  bears  neither  name  of  editor 
nor  preface,  neither  elucidative  notes  nor  index.  One 


xvi  TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE 

can  understand  the  delicacy  of  feeling  which  prompted 
Wahnfried  to  so  unusual  a  course,  though  the  German 
publisher's  prospectus  had  pre-announced  the  work  as 
edited  by  Baron  Hans  von  Wolzogen,  and  in  fact  the 
immediately  succeeding  issue  of  the  BayreutJier  Blatter 
(Spring  1908)  contained  a  supplementary  word  of  intro- 
duction by  Wolzogen  himself  to  its  reprint  of  letter  36. 
From  that  supplement  we  learn  this  one  material  fact, 
and  this  alone,  that  ' '  there  are  no  more  of  these  letters 
in  the  archive,"  in  other  words,  that  these  are  all  the 
master's  letters  to  Fran  Minna  at  present  possessed  by 
his  heirs.  It  is  remarkable  indeed,  and  to  the  world  at 
large  quite  unexpected,  that  so  great  a  number  should 
have  been  procurable.  However  they  may  have  passed 
into  the  Wahnfried  strong-box,  whether  as  a  whole  re- 
stored to  Richard  Wagner  after  Minna's  death,  or  by 
instalments  slowly  gathered  since  his  own,  the  fact  that 
Minna  preserved  such  cogent  testimony  without  a  self- 
protective  weeding-out  goes  far  to  exalt  her  inmost 
character  :  it  is  as  though  she  dimly  foresaw  the  day 
when  herself  she  might  be  .instrumental  in  triumphantly 
clearing  her  husband's  name  from  calumnies  reposing  on 
a  false  assumption  of  her  "martyrdom." 

But  let  me  restrict  my  few  remaining  lines,  as 
said,  to  technique.  In  sundry  instances  I  have  noted 
on  the  following  pages  their  indications  of  letters  still 
missing  from  the  sequence.  Those  lacking  at  its  latter 
end  could  scarcely  add  much  to  our  fund  of  knowledge  ; 
but  those  from  the  time  of  her  first  Soden  cure  (see 
p.  6 10),  still  more  from  the  first  three  months  of  his 


TRANSLATOR'S    PREFACE  xvii 

expatriation,  and  most  of  all  from  the  period  before 
our  collection  so  much  as  commences  (e.g.  from  the 
month  or  so  when  he  was  in  a  Paris  debtors'  prison, 
or  the  time  of  her  own  escapade),  would  be  a  welcome 
addition,  should  the  originals  still  exist.  On  the 
other  hand  we  must  remember  that,  except  at  the 
epochs  represented  by  the  main  divisions  into  which 
this  correspondence  naturally  falls,  Richard  and  Minna 
were  very  little  away  from  each  other,  even  at  the 
time  of  their  courtship,  and  therefore  no  numerous 
accession  is  to  be  anticipated,  though  wellnigh  the 
most  interesting  document  of  all,  his  final  proposal  of 
marriage,  was  actually  seen  some  years  ago  by  Mr. 
H.  E.  Krehbiel  before1  its  presumable  plunge  into  the 
recesses  of  a  secretive  collector's  portfolio.  For  those 
few  truants  we  therefore  may  possess  our  souls  in 
patience. 

As  to  the  German  editing,  with  so  conscientious  a 
scholar  as  Hans  von  Wolzogen  to  attend  to  it,  we 
may  be  sure  that  the  infinitesimal  number  of  dots 
represent  all  the  omissions  effected.  Indeed,  he  might 
have  gone  a  little  farther  in  the  case  of  a  few  particulars 
anent  the  operation  of  domestic  medicines,  which  my 
publishers  have  preferred  me  to  dot  out  between  square 
brackets.  Further,  it  would  have  been  as  well  if  the 
use  of  square  brackets  for  editorial  additions  had  been 
adopted  in  the  German  issue,  from  which  that  typo- 
graphic artifice  is  absent.  I  merely  refer  to  such 
obvious  additions  as  a  few  non-original  dates  or  the 
interpolation  of  a  stray  subsidiary  word  to  complete 
VOL.  I  b 


TRANSLATOR'S  PREFACE 

the  sense  ;  where  the  matter  within  curved  brackets 
is,  after  all,  not  very  apt  to  be  confused  with  an 
author's  own  parentheses.  Those  curved  brackets  I 
have  therefore  deemed  best  to  retain,  even  where  their 
source  was  quite  palpable,  reserving  the  conventional 
squares  for  my  own  elucidations. 

Finally,  a  remark  on  the  mode  of  translation.  It 
may  seem  a  little  incongruous,  to  find  "Thy"  etc.  as 
signature  to  a  letter  whose  main  body  abides  by  the 
accustomed  "  your  "  ;  but — remembering  what  a  point 
Wagner  makes  of  his  "  Du  "  on  page  90 — I  really 
could  devise  no  other  method  of  preserving  the  peculiar 
intimacy  of  tone,  while  avoiding  the  poetic  flavour 
associated  in  our  English  tongue  with  the  second  person 
singular.  Even  if  that  discrepance  should  offend  at 
first,  experience  has  convinced  me  that  the  reader  will 
scarcely  notice  it  after  a  longer  familiarity.  A  more 
burning  question  is  that  of  the  colloquial  style  I  have 
deliberately  aimed  at  ;  my  sole  apology  for  which  must 
be,  that  the  diction  of  the  originals  for  the  most  part  is 
idiomatic  and  colloquial  in  the  extreme,  far  more  so 
than  that  of  any  other  collection  of  the  master's  letters 
with  which  I  am  as  yet  acqiiainted. 

And  now  it  largely  rests  in  the  reader's  own  hands, 
whether  the  present  volumes  shall  soon  be  supplemented 
by  an  English  rendering  of  the  delightful  Familienbriefe, 
i.e.  letters  from  Richard  Wagner  to  his  mother,  sisters, 
nieces,  and  so  on. 

WM  ASHTON  ELLIS. 

PRESTON  PARK,  January  1909. 


CORRIGENDA 

Page    6,  line  13,           for        "Bechmann"  read  "Bochmann" 

,,     14,    ,,    19,             ,,          "Strusse's"  ,,     "Struwe's" 

,,     36,  37  and  39,  passim,  for  "  Cornel"  ,,     "  Cornet" 

,,      58,  line  15,                    ,,    "Erner"  ,,     "  Exner" 

,,      398,,,  8,                      ,,    "  Zcohinsky's "  ,,     "  Zschinsky's ". 


Richard  to   Minna   Wagner 


i. 

DRESDEN,  Thursday  morning. 
\_Jttly  21,  1842.] 

DEAR  GOOD  WIFE, 

My  opera  \_Rienzi\  will  be  given  the  end  of  Sep- 
tember— that  is  to  say,  about  12  days  later  than  originally 
fixed. — I  set  this  chief  item  of  news  at  the  top  of  my 
letter  that  you  mayn't  have  to  read  far  in  uncertainty. 
Had  I  got  here  the  commencement  of  this  month,  my 
opera  would  have  been  given  as  early  as  the  end  of  August  ; 
for — only  fancy  ! — the  Devrient,  Tichatscheck  and  Reis- 
siger  have  been  back  three  weeks  already,  without  the 
least  thing  being  done.  It  is  abominable  !  On  the  day 
of  my  arrival  I  did  not  catch  Fischer  till  evening,  at  the 
theatre,  and  after  I  had  looked  at  him,  could  lay  no  blame 
on  him, — the  poor  man  looks  quite  pinched  and  haggard, 
for  his  most  strenuous  activity  has  singly  to  make  good 
the  laziness  of  all  the  rest,  to  keep  business  even  half 
going.  Now  the  play-manager,  Dittmarsch,  has  also  been 
ill  for  some  time,  and  poor  Fischer  has  to  stage-manage 
the  Play  as  well. — To  the  point,  however  !  The  mischief 
is  that  Tichatscheck  goes  to  Salzburg  for  12  days,  not  at 
the  end  of  September — as  we  supposed — but  at  its  begin- 
ning :  in  fact  he  starts  the  last  of  August.  So  it's  quite 

VOL.     I  I 


2  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

impossible  to  bring  my  opera  out  before  his  journey. 
However,  I  have  hit  on  the  following  plan,  and  it  has  met 
with  everyone's  approval  : — We  will  begin  the  study  of 
my  opera  at  once,  and  if  by  the  end  of  August  we  have 
got  through  with  all  the  chamber-rehearsals,  so  that 
everybody  is  letter-perfect — then  it  won't  much  matter  if 
Tichatscheck  leaves  us  for  12  days.  As  soon  as  he  gets 
back,  we'll  have  another  week  of  chamber-rehearsals,  to 
rub  off  any  rust  ;  then  will  come  8  days  of  stage  rehearsals, 
so  that  the  opera  can  be  given  about  the  26th  of  Septem- 
ber, and  there  will  be  no  more  need  of  a  break  in  its 
representations.  Tichatscheck  has  begged  me  to  give  him 
a  diligent  coaching — the  Devrient  has  declared  her  readi- 
ness for  anything — and  the  only  obstacle,  as  all  agree,  is 
Reissiger's  sloth,  which  /'// soon  remedy  !  The  rehearsals 
begin  next  week. — So  much  for  my  opera  :  they  all  say, 
"  It's  lucky  you  came  !  " 

I  have  put  up  here  in  the  same  house  with  your 
mother,  and  occupy  a  room  vacated  for  me  by  the  land- 
lord's sister.  They  obliged  me  at  once,  only  it  has  been 
impossible  to  find  out  what  they  want  for  it:  "The 
merest  trifle — make  no  bones  about  that — it  would  arrange 
itself,"  and  so  forth. — I  don't  fancy  they'll  be  grasping.— 
The  first  night  was  awful-  -although  very  tired,  I  couldn't 
sleep  a  wink.  Beds  a  mile  high,  in  which  I  baked  ; 
mice,  watchmen — a  general  conspiracy  ; — yesterday  I  was 
a  complete  wreck,  but,  for  all  that,  neglected  nothing. 
To-day  I  have  to  go  to  Reissiger  at  10,  to  see  to  the  parts 
being  given  out  !  Just  think  ! — the  parts  have  been  in 
the  office  a  fortnight,  for  Reissiger  to  sign  -and  out  of 
pure  indolence  the  man  hasn't  arrived  at  it  yet.  I  have 
taken  steps  to  get  them  sent  to  him  this  morning  ; 
then  /  shall  be  there,  and  he  shall  sign  them  in  my 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  3 

presence.  Then  I'll  go  on  to  Liittichau,  to  get  every- 
thing confirmed — which  will  be  rather  melting  work  in 
my  black  clothes. 

Naturally  I  have  been  unable  to  give  a  thought  to  our 
lodgings  as  yet  ;  I'll  commence  this  afternoon,  though. 
What  is  to  be  done  with  my  good  Mama,  as  things  have 
turned,  I  hardly  know  : — please  write  me  quickly  what 
she  thinks  about  it.  Anyhow  I  will  find  her  somewhere 
to  alight,  and  try  to  get  it  in  the  same  house  as  ourselves  ; 
only — of  course  ! — for  an  undetermined  period.  In  any 
case,  I'll  write  you  both,  the  instant  I  have  found  an 
apartment.— 

However,  I  must  hurry  up  to  get  this  letter  off  to-day, 
that  you  may  not  have  to  wait  for  news  too  long.— 

I  enclose  a  few  lines  for  Dr.  Ullrich  :^-How  are  things 
really  going?  Is  the  Mama  out  of  bed  yet?  Grant  God  that 
her  illness  is  over  !—  —May  you  only  not  be  short  of  money ! 

—Write  as  soon  as  you  can  ;  you  know  my  address. — I 
found  your  parents  quite  well  and  cheerful — I  gave  your 
mother  a  thaler  to  lay  out — as  soon  as  it  is  spent,  she's  to 
tell  me  and  I'll  give  her  another.— 

No  doubt  you  have  heard  the  awful  tidings  of  the  sad 
death  of  the  poor  Duke  of  Orleans  !  Isn't  it  horrible  ? — I 
couldn't  help  weeping  for  him.— 

God  grant  us  a  better  ending  !  In  the  meantime, 
though,  we'll  live  another  brief  half  century  in  health  and 
joy  ! — Farewell,  my  dear,  dear  wifie  !  Heartiest  love  to 
my  mother,  and  tell  her  everything.  Farewell  and  don't 
forget 

Thy 

good  HUBBIE. 
Regards  to  Jette  ! 
Regards  to  Turk  ! 


4  RICHARD   TO   MINNA   WAGNER 

2. 

Monday, 
DRESDEN,  25.  July,  1842. 

DEAR,  DEAR  MINNA, 

Well  ?    When  are  you   coming  ?     Everything  is 
arranged,  and  luckily  with  time  enough  left  to  report  to 
you    at    leisure.      First    for    the   apartments,    then. — I've 
been  fairly  round  the  whole  city,  looked  at  21  apartments, 
and  found  many  among  them  that  would  have  suited  us 
quite  well,  but  the  cheapest  were  20  thaler.      That's  how 
the  new  houses  run  :   it  is  impossible  for  us  to  take  rooms 
in  one  of  them  just  yet,  and  besides,   they    offer    us    no 
convenience  whatever  in  the  way  of  kitchen  and  the  like, 
but  for  the  most  part  are  merely  arranged  for  the  Deputies, 
who  are  assembling  here  now  and  make  house-room  very 
dear.      So  I   considered  it  quite  a  stroke  of  luck,  when  I 
found  at  last  the  lodging  I  have  taken.      It  lies  on  the 
Promenade,  by  what  is  called  the  Johannis-Allee,   to  the 
right  of  the  Promenade  if  you  go  down  the  Seegasse  from 
the  Market,  about  3  or  4  houses  before  the  corner-house 
in  which  you  say  the  Emil  Devrients  live.      It  is  no  new 
house,  to  be  sure,  two  nights  up,  and  the  rooms  a  trifle 
low,  but  will  do  well   enough  :   5  windows  looking  on  to 
the   Promenade,    2   decent  rooms  with   2   windows  apiece, 
and   one   with    i  ;    quite    nicely    furnished,    2    beds    with 
mattresses,  etc.  ;   also  use  of  a  kitchen.      The  rent  comes 
to  12  thr,  it's  true,  but  everyone  advised  me  to  close  with 
it,  as  it  would  be  impossible,  they  said,  to  get  a  lodging 
like  it  cheaper.      What  particularly  determined  me  to  take 
this  abode,  moreover,  was  that  on  the  same  floor  there  is 
another  very  beautiful  lodging  with  sitting-room  and  bed- 
room, which  is  let  to  someone  who  doesn't  take  possession 
till  the  end  of  August  ;   consequently  my  mother  can  put 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  5 

up  there  for  one  or  two  weeks,  as  she  pleases,  and  it  will 
be  left  to  her  generosity  what  she  pays,  since  the  people 
can't  well  ask  for  rent,  of  course,  when  another  person  is 
already  paying.  She  therefore  will  be  let  off  cheap,  and 
as  she  will  scarcely  remain  a  whole  month  at  Dresden 
under  present  conditions,  my  opera  not  being  given  before 
the  end  of  September,  this  kind  of  halting-place  can  only 

be   what   she  would   like. That  ends  the   apartments 

story  ;  rest  assured  I  couldii1 1  have  managed  better. 

For  the  rest,  my  prospects  here  are  looking  brighter 
and  brighter.  My  personal  intervention  seems  to  have 
really  done  my  cause  a  heap  of  good.  I  really  haven't 
time  now  to  describe  to  you  in  writing  all  I've  settled  and 
put  straight  amid  the  shakiest  circumstances  ;  only  thus 
much  :  all  are  for  me,  and  for  a  speedy  production  of  my 
opera.  Lortzing's  Casanova  (a  little  opera)  was  really  to 
have  been  given  first,  with  Tichatscheck  to  sing  in  it  ; 
but  he  has  asked  Ivtittichau  to  relieve  him  of  the  role,  that 
he  may  study  Ric.nzi  the  more  diligently.  Yesterday 
Koch  told  me  that  Tichatscheck  had  said  to  him  that,  if 
he  could  truly  help  my  opera  thereby,  he  possibly  might 
decide  on  not  leaving  us  for  Salzburg  at  all  I—- 
The Devrient  seems  extremely  well  disposed  towards 
me.  Yesterday  I  dined  at  [Ferd.]  Heine's,  who  is  attach- 
ing himself  more  cordially  to  me  every  day,  and  whom  do 
you  think  he  had  invited  ? — The  Devrient  ! — She  was  in 
very  good  vein,  and  it  was  determined  that  right  at  the 
end  of  my  opera  ( — where  Adriano  comes  rushing  in,  to 
rescue  Irene  from  the  burning  Capitol — )  she  shall  gallop 
in  on  horseback — just  fancy  !  riding  like  a  man. — That 
will  raise  a  fine  Halloh  !  !  !— 

Reissiger  I   have  quite  in  my  pocket — I've  made  him 
a  present  of  my  opera  subject,  the  "  hohe  Brant."      When 


6  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

I  read  it  to  him  yesterday,  he  was  beside  himself,  all  fire 
and  flame  ;   in  return,  he's  to  be  nice  and  industrious  !— 

And  now,  my  good,  brave,  charming  wife,  you're 
coming  Thursday,  aren't  you?  Anyhow  I  shall  wait  for 
you  outside  the  gate  on  Thursday — but  in  case  you  do  not 
come  till  Friday,  I  herewith  give  you  the  address  to  which 
the  coachman  is  to  drive  : 

Waisenhausgasse,  no.  5,  left  side  of  the  court, 
that  being  the  entrance  from  the  road.      I   shall   move  in 
to-morrow  afternoon,  to  get  everything  prepared  for  your 
and  Mother's  welcome. 

With  money  I  am  provided  :  Luise  came  through  here 
en  route — as  you  know — and  Bechmann,  who  was  with 
her,  offered  me  the  money  for  next  month  straight  off,  to 
save  him  the  bother  [of  sending  it].- — So  that  fell  out 
exactly  as  I  wished. — And  so  will  everything,  be  sure  of 
it  !—  —For  that  matter,  I  was  quite  delighted  with  Luise, 
she  said  so  many  nice  things  about  you.  But  now  for 
something  dull.  On  my  return  home  last  evening  from 
the  theatre,  I  find  an  unfranked  letter  from  Paris,  which 
costs  me  16  groschen.  It  was  from  Troupenas,  asking  me 
as  amicably  as  possible  for  the  arrangement  \_Rcinc  de 
Chypre  ?~\.  I  fell  to  at  once,  and  worked  till  midnight  to 
get  the  arrangement  finished.  I  am  packing  it  now,  and 
shall  send  it  off  at  once  through  the  Leipzig  firm. 

Now  grant  God  you  all  are  quite  well  ! — The  Mama 
must  have  recovered  by  now,  I  should  think  ;  may  she  be 
feeling  quite  brisk  after  this  crisis  !— 

Arrive  safe  and  sound,  and  give  me  due  praise  if  I've 
done  the  right  thing. — Farewell,  my  dear  Wife,  be  good 
to  me,  and  come  full  soon  to 

charming  RICHEL. 
How's  Turk  ? 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  7 

Postscript.  I  had  just  sealed  up  this  letter,  dear 
Minna,  when  I  received  your  own.  I  therefore  am  break- 
ing it  open  again,  to  reply  in  haste  to  what  you  write  me. 
It  is  very  disagreeable  to  me,  that  you  two  won't  come  till 
Monday  ;  for,  besides  my  longing  for  yourself,  I  have 
already  hired  the  apartment  for  a  quarter  till  the  end  of 
October.  Notwithstanding  that  I  can  move  in  as  early  as 
tomorrow,  I  shall  have  no  more  to  pay  than  if  I  entered 
on  the  ist  of  August  ;  so  I  don't  lose  by  it — still,  it  goes 
very  much  against  my  grain,  for  many  reasons,  to  be  left 
alone  so  long.  Only  don't  alarm  yourself  about  the 
lodgings  ;  I  made  the  agreement  in  such  a  form  that  I 
believe  I  shall  have  to  pay  no  rent  before  the  end  of 
October — when  the  quarter  expires — for  I  said  :  "I  will 
take  the  rooms  till  the  end  of  October,  and  then  pay  you 
36  thr. "  The  people  are  in  good  circumstances,  too,  and 
won't  be  wanting  money  earlier.  This  was  a  prudent 
move  of  mine,  as  it  will  make  it  easier  for  us  to  pull  along 
till  the  production  of  my  opera. — If  it's  only  Mother's 
nervousness,  perhaps,  do  persuade  her  in  my  name  rather 
to  choose  Thursday  for  travelling.- — My  God,  what  a  mite 
of  a  journey  !  and  she  shall  find  everything  handy  here. 
Do  see  if  you  can't  coax  Mother  round.  For  the  rest, 
you*1  re  to  remain  in  Dresden  yourself,  you  understand? 
My  prospects  are  good .' 

In    great    haste,    as   I    must    be    off  to  Tichatscheck. 
Farewell  ;  see  if  you  cannot  come  soon  ! 

3. 

Thursday,  9  in  t/ic  morning. 

DRESDEN,  28.  July  1842. 

BEST  WIFE  OF  .MINE, 

I  was  just  busied  with  my  moving  in  yesterday, 
when   I   received  your  letter  in   the  new  apartments.      It 


8  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

makes  me  very  sad,  to  think  you  mean  to  leave  me  still 
alone  so  long  !  Dear  Minna,  we  absolutely  ought  not  to 
be  parted  for  long  ;  that  I  feel  afresh  once  more,  both 
deeply  and  sincerely.  What  you  are  to  me,  a  whole 
capital  of  70,000  inhabitants  cannot  replace.  If  I've  no 
business  on  hand,  I  fret  the  more  for  being  alone  ;  but 
when  I  have  been  tiring  myself  out  all  day  long,  and 
evening  comes  to  find  you  not  indoors,  I  take  a  violent 
dislike  to  all  the  home  comforts  so  grateful  to  me  other- 
wise, and  what  I  find  outside  the  house  indeed  is  not  in 
the  position  to  compensate  me  for  a  single  minute.  I 
haven't  yet  quite  understood  one  passage  in  your  letter  : 
you  speak  of  a  necessity  for  our  being  parted  still  longer, 
perhaps  !  — Where  is  that  necessity  ?  When,  to  pursue 
my  soaring  plans  and  hopes  (which  you  did  not  even 
share  with  me),  in  circumstances  that  might  well  have 
scared  the  stoutest-hearted  man,  I  prepared  to  set  out 
from  Russia  ;  when  amid  perils  of  every  kind  I  embarked 
at  Pillau,  to  commence  a  fearfully  uncertain  journey  that 
was  to  bring  me  to  a  still  more  doubtful  goal — did  you  then 
speak  of  any  necessity  to  leave  me  ?  By  God,  I  should 
have  been  obliged  to  agree  with  you  then  !  But  it  never 
entered  your  head.  When  storm  and  danger  were  at  their 
greatest,  when  you  saw  a  hideous  death  before  you  as  reward 
for  all  the  hardships  you  had  shared  with  me,  you  simply 
begged  me  then  to  lock  you  faster  in  my  arms,  that  we 
only  might  not  sink  into  the  deep  asunder  !  When  we 
were  hovering  on  the  brink  of  starvation  in  Paris,  many 
an  opportunity  was  offered  you  to  save  yourself :  one 
word,  and  Frau  v.  Zech,  who  was  so  heartily  fond  of  you, 
would  have  taken  you  with  her  to  Gotha, — the  Leplay 
herself,  forgetting  her  stinginess  for  your  sake,  would 
have  conducted  you  back  to  your  home  as  her  travelling- 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  9 

companion  : — why  did  you  not  speak  of  a  necessity  then 
for  us  to  part  ?  Look  you,  I  could  have  found  nothing  to 
reply  to  you  then.  But  now  that  I  feel  I  have  my  future 
more  and  more  in  my  own  hands,  I  ask  you,  why  are  you 
talking  now  of  this  necessity  t  Tell  me,  what  makes  you 
so  faint-hearted  ?—  —See,  all  is  arranged  for  the  best. 
Lodging  and  piano  hire  I  have  deferred  to  the  end  of 
October  ; — till  the  production  of  my  opera  it  is  nothing 
but  a  question  of  our  board,  and  we  can  defray  that  well 
enough  with  what  I  have  still  to  receive.  Consequently  I 
shall  be  a  burden  on  no  one  any  longer,  least  of  all  on  my 
family.  So  rid  yourself  of  this  anxiety  ;  for,  were  1 
really  to  run  short  of  money,  now  I  know  that  in  the 
midst  of  strangers  I'm  a  stranger  here  no  longer:  I  have 
convinced  myself  I've  won  new  friends  here  who  merely 
fall  short  of  my  old  as  yet  in  that  they  haven't  yet  had 
time  to  prove  their  friendship.  Really  and  truly,  dear 
Minna,  to  me  it  looks  as  if  I  were  of  some  account  here  ; 
this  moment,  for  instance,  I  have  obtained  200  thaler  from 
the  Devrient  for  Kietz.  She  is  an  artist,  you  see,  and  so 
are  Kietz  and  I,  and  artists  ought  to  have  to  do  with  none 
but  one  another  :  no  trader  ought  to  come  between,  or  it 
leads  to  odious  conflicts. 

Enough  !  I  won't  tell  you  much  more,  though  I 
should  have  matter  in  plenty.  At  least  you'll  soon  be 
coming,  after  all,  so  I'll  save  up  everything  for  word  of 
mouth  !— 

Till  then,  though,  merely  this  : 

How  glad  I  am  at  your  assuring  me  dear  Mama's 
health  is  restored,  except  for  a  weakness  in  her  feet  : — as 
this  weakness  is  a  natural  result  in  any  case,  one  must 
make  one's  mind  easy  about  it.  As  for  her  quarters  here, 
things  have  altered  a  little  ;  it's  a  very  fine  place,  true 


io  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

enough — only  she  will  have  to  pay  2  Rthr  a  week,  with- 
out bedding  ;  it  couldn't  be  managed  otherwise,  and 
Mother  will  readily  understand  it  too,  when  she  gets  here 
— so  I  have  only  taken  it  for  a  week,  to  begin  with, — for 
I'm  a  little  timid,  you  know,  at  this  kind  of  commission. 
Anyhow,  everything  is  ready,  and  all  I  cry  to  both  of  you, 
is  Come,  do  come  !— 

As  for  yourself,  dear  child,  everybody  is  asking  after 
you  with  the  warmest  interest.  They  are  all  very  fond 
of  you,  and  T  shall  have  a  hard  job  with  my  constant 
excuses  if  you  refuse  to  call  on  them.  Well,  that  will  all 
arrange  itself,  and  you  shan't  find  me  compelling  you  to 
anything.  — 

Be  at  ease  about  Ulrich  :  in  your  timidity  yon 
probably  saw  more  than  there  was  to  see.  I  have  written 
him  exactly  as  we  had  agreed. 

—Farewell.  Father  and  Mother  send  love.  Your 
mother  keeps  giving  me  too  big  helpings  ;  I'm  terrified 
every  time  she  serves  up  ! 

You  shall  pay  for  the  lodging  I  have  occupied  till  now 
—you'll  soon  settle  it,  whereas  they  beat  about  too  much 
with  me  !— 

Come  soon  !  Monday,  Monday  !  Ah,  if  only  it  were 
Monday  now  ! 

You  darling  south-wind,    blow  still  more  ! 
For  my  dear  Minna  my  heart  is  sore  ! 

Hearty  greetings  !      Ade,  my  good  Wife, 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

When  luill  they  clear  that  cursed  youngster  out,  that 
Matz  ?- 

Tiirk  !      Turk  ! 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  u 

4. 

DRESDEN,  [Friday]  2.  June  1843. 

DEAREST,  BEST  WIFE  OF  MY  HEART, 

Though  I  shall  write  you  again  the  day  after 
tomorrow,  to  send  you  your  allowance,  I  cannot  refrain 
from  heralding  it  with  these  few  lines  to-day.  Our  first 
letters  must  have  crossed,  and  apparently  we  both  received 
them  at  the  same  time.  I  found  yours  after  an  evening 
of  adventures  :  At  noon  on  Tuesday  I  suddenly  received  a 
command  from  the  King,  through  Lord  Steward  v.  Mink- 
witz,  to  arrange  a  little  court-concert  for  Pillnitz  post- 
haste ;  remarkable  to  say,  everything  fitted  in,  everyone 
turned  up,  and  so  three  carriage-loads  of  us  started  at  5 
o'clock,  Lipinski,  Rummer  and  two  others  from  the 
Rapelle  for  a  quartet,  Bielzizki  and  the  Gentiluomo  for 
songs.  On  our  arrival  at  Pillnitz  all  the  doors  are  nailed 
up,  so  to  speak,  not  a  flunkey  knows  anything  about  us  ; 
we  glare  at  one  another,  and  the  Gentiluomo  begins  to 
scold.  Then  Grand  Marshal  v.  Reitzenstein  is  called  on 
the  scene  ;  he  takes  us  at  least  into  a  room,  and  explains 
that  a  messenger  had  been  despatched  to  countermand  us, 
since  the  Grand  Duchess  Helene  had  not  come  to  Pillnitz 
as  invited,  and  consequently  the  whole  Court  had  gone  off 
to  the  Weinberg  :  the  messenger  must  therefore  have  missed 
us.  The  Gentiluomo  flew  at  the  Grand  Marshal  so  like  a 
true  comedian  that  we  men  sought  to  make  ourselves 
scarce,  and  abandoned  her  to  her  fate  ;  she  drove  back  to 
Dresden  alone,  whilst  we  went  to  the  hotel  to  stave  off 
hunger,  where  we  amused  ourselves  quite  well  till  half- 
past  10,  and  I  really  was  glad  of  the  opportunity  of 
mingling  with  these  leaders  of  the  orchestra  for  once. 
Lipinski  turned  all  fire  and  flame  for  me  again  ;  with  a  quite 
heartily-meant  embrace  he  made  full  amends  for  the  wrong 


12  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

he  had  done  me.  So  we  drove  home  in  the  best  of  spirits, 
and  there  I  found  your  letter,  which  I  read  in  bed  with 
great  content.  Yes,  a  letter  like  that  does  one  real  good  ; 
for  even  the  shade  of  sadness  in  it  strictly  reposes  on 
nothing  but  love,  and  to  love  and  be  loved  remains  ever  a 
boon,  even  when  yearning  has  to  enter  the  bargain.  See, 
at  least  we  no  longer  need  yearn  in  dread  for  one  another 
now  !  Schlankelino  will  comfort  himself  soon  enough,  if 
only  he  gets  on  more  intimate  terms  with  the  phantom 
Spook  !— 

The  ^rd.  That's  just  the  way  !  I  have  been  obliged 
to  suspend  writing  a  whole  day  ;  but  you  know  it  of  old. 
Yesterday  I  had  only  got  just  so  far  with  my  letter  as  to 
be  meaning  to  tell  you  how  it  happened  that,  against  my 
immediate  intention,  I  did  not  forthwith  answer  yours 
which  so  delighted  me,  when  all  manner  of  things  inter- 
vened to  withhold  me  once  more.  Lindenau  called  again, 
and  the  Rottorf,  who  greatly  dislikes  my  being  disturbed 
when  at  work,  mistook  the  Premier  Minister  for  a  vaga- 
bond, and  denied  me  to  him  ;  the  poor  man  had  to  depart, 
leaving  behind  him  a  couple  of  lines  in  which  he  begged 
me  to  call  on  him  as  soon  as  possible.  The  Rottorf  was 
frightened  out  of  her  wits  when  she  learnt  that  it  had 
been  the  Minister  ;  whilst  I  had  to  dress  and  make  off  to 
him  myself.  He  had  shewn  my  composition  to  the  King, 
and  the  latter  had  sat  down  to  the  piano  at  once,  played 
it  straight  through,  and  expressed  his  great  delight  with 
it.  This  business  [see  no.  5]  gives  me  heaps  to  do,  how- 
ever, a  hundred  jobs  to  get  things  properly  together. 

The  day  before  yesterday  I  made  a  fine  day  for  myself. 
After  finishing  my  work,  I  went  to  dine  at  the  Wald- 
schlosschen  alone,  thence  over  the  Hirsch  through  all 
sorts  of  woods  and  byways  to  the  Ziegengrund,  past 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  13 

Loschewitz  to  Blasewitz,  and  from  there  to  the  cemetery, 
where  I  gave  orders  for  the  restoration  of  my  father's 
grave.  It  will  not  cost  very  much,  and  in  the  autumn 
we'll  plant  a  couple  of  trees,  shall  we  not? 

—If  you  could  only  see  me  in  my  lovely  summer 
costume  !  It's  a  perfect  joy  ;  only  I  made  a  bad  choice 
with  the  violet  gloves,  for  when  I  pulled  them  off  for 
the  first  time,  and  was  pointing  with  my  finger  on  the 
bill  of  fare,  the  waiter  bounded  back  in  horror,  for  my 
whole  hand  looked  just  like  a  gigantic  violet,  the  gloves 
had  shed  their  dye  so. — I've  also  been  to  the  collector 
with  the  lottery  coupon,  and  to  my  delight  got  10  thaler, 
26  ngr,  for  it,  the  whole  ticket  having  won  50  thr  ;  a 
thing  that  always  strikes  one  as  a  present.  In  fact  I 
meant  at  first  to  send  it  you  forthwith,  to  buy  yourself 
a  pretty  summer  mantilla  at  Teplitz  ;  as  it  occurred  to 
me,  however,  that  you  probably  could  do  that  better  in 
Prague,  just  hear  how  I  have  roughly  planned  the  thing  ! 
You  will  surely  come  and  visit  me  for  once  ?  Very  good  : 
you  shall  come  for  our  Grand  Choral  festival,  the  yth  of 
July — (unfortunately  I  shall  be  unable  to  belong  to  you 
much  at  that  season,  as  you  may  well  imagine  :  Worse 
luck,  you  must  think  ! — )  and  once  you're  here,  I'll 
manage  to  get  leave,  perhaps  for  a  fortnight,  then  travel 
back  with  you  to  Teplitz.  We'll  do  all  the  excursions 
there,  and  go  to  Prague  ;  then  I'll  leave  you  at  Teplitz 
again,  and  return  to  Dresden,  whither  you  shall  follow 
me  for  good  the  end  of  August.  But  in  July  we'll  discuss 
it  all  between  ourselves  ;  isn't  that  right,  you  good 
Mienel  ?- — Pebs  shall  go  with  us,  too,  to  Prague  ;  it  wdll 
not  cost  too  much  to  travel  in  a  carriage  by  ourselves, 
which  makes  a  journey  twice  as  agreeable, — and  thus 
we'll  dispose  of  the  lottery  prize! — I've  had  no  further 


14  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

letters  yet,  excepting  from  the  Heinefetter  in  the  matter 
you  know  of,  and  from  the  editor  of  the  Theaterchronik, 
sending  me  a  number  in  which  I'm  highly  praised  as 
Kapellmeister.  Kietz's  letter  to  you  I  enclose  ;  you  will 
see  that  you  may  make  your  mind  quite  easy  now,  so  I'll 
write  you  nothing  more  about  it  — 

I've  just  had  to  make  another  break,  to  write  a  letter 
to  the  Minister  ;  you  have  no  idea  the  mass  of  things 
there  are  to  see  to.  And  when  the  unveiling  affair 
[statue  to  the  late  King]  is  over,  I  shall  have  to  put  on  seven- 
league  boots  for  the  Grand  Choral  festival  ;  as  soon  as 
I've  finished  the  composition,  the  rehearsals  will  come, 
and  so  on.  Added  to  which  I  now  have  all  the  operas  ; 
to-day — for  a  variety  —  Freischiitz  !  !  !  When  I  have  got 
the  composition  done,  too,  I  shall  have  to  sacrifice  my 
beloved  morning  hours  for  3  weeks  long  ( — I  now  rise 
regularly  by  5  at  latest — )  since  I  perceive  I  must  do 
something  for  my  health.  Consequently  I  have  decided 
to  go  through  a  complete  course  of  waters  at  Strusse's  ; 
much  against  my  will,  as  one  has  to  be  very  strict 
with  it. 

Otherwise  I'm  very  well,  thank  God — the  lassitude 
also  has  left  me,  and  I  am  fit  and  fresh.  If  only  you 
may  get  so,  too  ;  you  know  what  I  mean,  so  thoroughly 
well  that  one  may  expect  something  of  you  again, — but 
don't  let  Dr.  Ullrich  help  you  overmuch,  lest  it  go  with 
you  as  with  the  countess  !— 

Well,  dear  child,  Eisold  has  just  brought  me  my  pay, 
tomorrow  being  Sunday  ;  so  it  is  exactly  a  week  to-day 
since  you  left. — Herewith  you  therefore  receive  your 
month's  money  ;  if  it  doesn't  last  out,  you  know  well 
enough  to  whom  to  apply  ;  for  you  there  will  always  be 
money.  Deny  yourself  nothing,  and  make  an  excursion 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  15 

off  and  on  ; — they're  all  too  far  for  you  on  foot,  so  drive 
in  comfort. — Best  love  to  the  Mama.  Jette  was  here  the 
day  before  yesterday,  to  receive  her  "week's  wages"  ; 
she  gave  herself  such  airs  that  she  couldn't  speak  for 
lisping. — Ftirstenau  buttonholed  me  yesterday,  Hadn't  I 
any  orders  for  Teplitz  ?  No  :  said  I,  you  may  imagine 
why. — Last  night  there  was  a  new  farce  at  the  Bad 
[summer  theatre]  ;  I  went  out  to  it,  and  ran  into  your 
butcher — what's-his-name,  on  the  Ziegelgasse,  your 
parents'  landlord  : — he  also  is  going  to  Teplitz  to-day, 
and  asked  if  he  could  take  anything  for  me.  Again  I 
said  No !  Everybody  seems  going  to  Teplitz,  only  I 
can't  possibly  contrive  it  ;  each  holiday,  church  duty 
twice  ;  and  then  the  rehearsals  :  it's  shameful  !— Now, 
write  again  soon,  and  tell  me  a  thousand  things,  even 
if  just  as  pell-mell  as  in  this  letter  of  mine  ;  I'm  con- 
tinually interrupted.  Write  me  a  whole  quantity,  for 
you  already  are  writing  well  and  as  I  like.  No  doubt 
you've  shaken  down  a  little  better,  and  things  are  pleasing 
you  again.  How  goes  it  with  the  tiny  garden  ? — You 
dear  good  Mienel,  at  Pillnitz  and  Loschwitz  I  kept 
thinking,  "  You're  nearer  again  to  that  foolish  Minel  ; 
would  you  were  with  her  quite  !  " 

God  preserve  you  !  Farewell,  farewell  !  Get  well 
and  cheerful  !  You  have  reason  for  it,  since  everything 
around  us  stands  well,  and  it  is  a  great  thing  to  be  able 
to  say  that.  A  thousand  kisses  from 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

I  have  heard  nothing  more  of  Avenarius,  and  have 
no  desire  to  go  to  Leipzig  !  As  soon  as  he's  there  again, 
I  shall  write  him  [our]  orders  about  N.,  either  to  bring 
her  with  him  in  case  the  whole  establishment  is  leaving 


i6  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Paris  toward  autumn,  or  in  the  contrary  event  to  hand 
her  over  to  a  railway-guard  on  my  behalf.  In  either 
case  I'll  send  him  the  money  he  has  disbursed  for  me 
till  now.— 

5. 

DRESDEN,  6.  June  1843. 

MY    BEST,    DEAREST    MlENEL, 

In  spite  of  the  greatest  rush  and  uproar,  in  which 
I  now  find  myself  on  account  of  tomorrow's  festivity, 
I  must  bid  you  Good-day  in  all  haste  and  tell  you  a  scrap 
about  myself.  Only  this  moment  has  my  room  been 
vacated  by  all  the  military  bandsmen  I  had  to  call  to- 
gether ;  I'm  curious  about  tomorrow's  result,  though 
it  probably  will  be  no  very  great  shakes  ! 

However,  that's  a  minor  matter.  Besides  wanting 
to  thank  you  with  all  my  heart  for  your  dear  good 
letter — which  exactly  crossed  my  own  again — and  to 
give  you  43,000  kisses  for  it,  I  have  particularly  to  tell 
you  something  which  has  been  most  agreeable  to  me. 
Yesterday  the  5th,  about  6  in  the  evening,  I  ask  you, 
were  you  not  thinking  hard  of  Cassel  ? — For  my  part 
I  could  have  thought  of  the  Hollander  production  there 
only  with  the  greatest  uneasiness,  if  the  Dettmer,  who 
had  just  returned  from  Cassel,  hadn't  given  me  the  most 
encouraging  reports  the  day  before.  She  had  attended 
a  stage-rehearsal,  to  wit,  and  told  me  that  both  the  basses, 
Biberhofer  as  Dutchman  and  Foppel  as  Daland,  had  sung 
the  first  act  in  such  style  already  that  she  would  scarcely 
have  recognised  it  for  the  same  as  here  :  Biberhofer  has 
a  glorious  voice,  she  says,  and  is  a  very  handsome  man  ; 
Foppel  quite  excellent,  sturdy  and  brisk.  A  young  and 
very  pretty  singer,  a  Mile  Eder,  uncommonly  popular 
there,  sang  the  Senta  with  the  greatest  zeal,  and  kept  ask- 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  17 

ing  how  the  Devrient  took  things.  The  orchestra  already 
went  capitally,  for  Spohr  was  in  love  with  this  music  and 
had  taken  the  greatest  of  pains.  Everyone  shewed  the 
greatest  affection. — Now,  isn't  that  highly  encouraging? 
The  Dettmer  could  never  bring  her  story  to  an  end.  The 
whole  place  had  been  on  tenterhooks  for  my  arrival,  as 
it  had  got  noised  about  that  I  was  coming  myself.— 

The  overture  to  Rienzi  was  played  on  the  Briihl  Terrace 
yesterday  ;  I  was  among  the  crowd,  and  at  the  end  of  the 
overture,  which  was  very  well  executed,  a  regular  Hurrah 
went  up  :  Bravo  !  Bravo  ! — One  may  hear  it  every  day 
now,  sometimes  on  the  Terrace,  sometimes  in  the  Grosser 
Garten  ; — a  very  good  joke  to  me  ! 

Lord,  if  tomorrow's  affair  were  only  over  ;  I've  so 
much  to  compose  still,  and  time  is  pressing  fearfully  ! 
I  must  give  up  my  contemplated  spa-cure  ;  if  I  cannot 
be  very  strict  with  it,  and  over-exert  myself  even  a  little, 
it  may  do  me  more  harm  than  good. — I'll  see  if  I  can't 
get  longer  leave  next  month  perhaps;  then  I'll  stay  with 
you  at  Teplitz,  and  we'll  drink  and  promenade  together. 
That  would  be  fine,  would  it  not  ? 

Ac/i  Jesus  !  I  must  go  and  dress  now, — the  Minister 
etc.  expect  me  at  the  Zwinger,  which  already  is  enclosed 
to-day,  to  make  an  inspection  of  everything.— 

Be  content  with  this  morsel  to-day,  little  Wife  of 
my  heart  !  You  shall  shortly  have  news  from  me  again  ; 
were  I  to  keep  waiting  until  I  had  plenty  of  time,  it 
would  come  off  very  seldom  ! — My  good  child,  entertain 
yourself  well,  build  up  your  health,  and  stay  fond  of  me. 
Adieu,  you  dear,  good  chick  !  Thv 

Best  greetings  to  the  Mama.  RICHARD. 

Pebs  is  not  to  bite  Turk's  legs. 

VOL.    I 


iS  RICHARD    TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

6. 

DRESDEN,  8.  June  1843. 

.  BEST  MINEL, 

A  tiny  report  in  hot  haste  ! — Yesterday's  fete 
went  off  very  well,  my  chorus  decidedly  bearing  off  the 
victory  over  Mendelssohn's,  which  had  no  effect  and 
remained  unintelligible. — Lindenau  confessed  this  to 
me  to-day  quite  candidly,  and  assured  me  the  whole 
Court  was  of  the  same  opinion. — The  lyord  Steward  has 
just  conveyed  me  in  the  name  of  the  King  a 

gold  snuffbox, 

very  solid,  with  splendid  embossing. — So — a  gold  snuff- 
box too,  now — out  of  that  you'll  always  have  to  take  a 
pinch,  however  strong  the  tobacco,  you  good  foolish,  very 
best  Minel,  you  ! 

You  don't  write  me  at  all  !  What  can  be  the 
meaning  of  it  ?  Have  you  already  struck  up  with 
another?  Just  wait,  and  you'll  catch  it!— 

Full  speed  ahead  for  the  Apostles  \_Liebesmahl\  now  ! 
This  evening  we  have  Norma,  with  the  Werthmuller,— 
the  rubbish  !  — 

Kindest  regards  to  the  Mama  ! — Pebs  is  to  behave 
himself  nicely,  or  I  shan't  shew  him  my  gold  snuffbox. 

Adieu,  you  dear,  dear,  good  Wife  !  I  am  ever  and 
always  near  you  with  my  whole  full  heart  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

7. 

DRESDEN,  9.  June  1843. 

See,  Minel  of  my  heart,  already  I  must  write  you 
again,  for  I've  received  something  to-day  of  still  more 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  19 

value  than  yesterday's  snuffbox,  namely  a  letter  from  Spohr, 
from  Cassel,  which  really  has  made  me  extraordinarily 
happy.  I'm  going  to  send  it  to  the  musical  journal 
at  Leipzig  at  once,  that  extracts  may  be  printed  from 
it  ;  so  I  have  hurriedly  made  a  copy  to  send  on  to  yourself, 
my  dear  wife.  From  this  copy  you  may  see  what  great 
good  fortune  came  my  way  when  just  this  opera  fell 
into  suck  hands  for  its  production  at  a  second  theatre  ! 
It  has  touched  me  to  the  quick  ;  everything  seems  to 
have  combined  to  give  this  opera  more  admirably  at 
Cassel  than  anywhere  else.  However,  you  will  be  able 
to  judge  that  from  the  letter  itself.  Immediately  I  had 
received  it,  I  dressed  and  called  on  Fischer,  who  was 
as  pleased  as  a  child,  fell  on  my  neck,  and  covered  me 
with  kisses,  crying,  "Just  as  it  ought  to  be  !  Cassel  was 
the  very  place  for  this  opera  to  be  brought  out  next. 
What  luck  !  Good  news  ;  it  is  good  !  " — Then  on  to 
Heine ;  the  same  tale  there  ! — -Yes,  dear  wife,  it  really  is 
an  extraordinary  stroke  of  luck;  I'm  too  delighted  — I 
don't  know  what  I'd  take  from  anyone  for  these  good 
tidings  !  !  Only,  rejoice  with  me  too,  dance  and  shout  ! 
have  no  more  fear  now  ;  everything  is  bound  to  go  ; 
and  even  if  it  should  go  slowly — I'm  marching  with  you 
toward  a  glorious  future,  no  tinsel  fortune,  but  solid  and 
enduring  :— - 

Now  I  must  go  and  sound  the  alarm  !  Laube  is 
floored  already  by  such  successes,  as  they  so  flatly  con- 
tradict his  prophecies  !  Forward,  ever  onward  on  my 
road  ! 

Fare\vell,  my  angel,  my  good  Wife  !  Be  glad  and 
merry  ;  luck  and  Heaven  are  with  us,  you  see  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 


20  RICHARD   TO    MINNA  WAGNER 

8. 

DRESDEN,  14..  June  1843. 

MY    DEAREST,    BEST    MlENEL, 

I  can't  possibly  tell  you  how  sorry  I  am  for  your 
happening  on  such  detestable  weather  for  the  start  of  your 
cure.       Really  it  worries  me  daily  and  hourly,  as  often  as 
I  see  it  rain  ;   and  as  often  as  a  friendly  gleam  of  sunshine 
shews  itself,    I'm  delighted   for  your  sake.       Put  up  with 
it,    though,    as    best    you    can  !      People    who   understand 
have  assured  me  it  would  go  on  raining  all  this  week, 
but  then  would  come  settled  fine  weather.    God  grant  it  !— 
Heartiest  thanks  for  your   letters.  —  I    always  receive 
them  on  my  return  home  at   night,    for  they    are    never 
delivered  till  between  6  and  7  o'clock,  at  which  time  I'm 
always    occupied,    with    rare    exceptions.       I    could    well 
imagine  you'd  be  glad,  and  I   wrote  back   to  Spohr  that 
the    only    grief   his    letter    had   occasioned    me    was    the 
impossibility  of  embracing  you,  dear  wife,  in  my  delight  ! 
That  we  must  defer  for  the  nonce,  biit  wJiat  a  hug  we'll 
give  each  other  when  the  time  comes  l^With  this  Spohr, 
for  that  matter,  I  really  have  made  a  remarkable  conquest  ; 
all  who  know  him,  represent  him  as  the  coldest,  brusquest 
and  most  inaccessible  of  men,  one  who  gives  everything 
strange    the    cold    shoulder.       My   having   won    him  over 
to  this  extent,  and  purely  through  my  work,  is  accounted 
to  me  a  great  merit  by  everyone. — This  fortunate  result 
at  Cassel  lends  me  great  advantages. — I   have  written   to 
Kiistner,    Berlin,   redemanding  my  original  score,  as  I  at 
least    may    presume   that    the   copy  is    finished    now  ;    for 
the  rest,  I   informed  him   that  this  opera  had   now  been 
given  at   Cassel  with  marked  success,    but  proudly  men- 
tioned nothing  further. — For  that  matter,  all  are  coming 
to    the   opinion    that    it    perhaps   would    be    better   if  the 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  21 

Hollander  were  given  precedence  at  other  places,  because 
if  people  don't  yet  know  the  brilliant  subject  of  Rienzi, 
the  Hollander  will  interest  more  and  whet  their  appetite, 
which  Rienzi  then  will  satisfy  far  better  than  the  other 
way  about.  Well,  I  shall  let  things  happen  as  God  wills  ! 

As  for  the  unveiling  ceremony  of  the  yth  inst. ,  I'll 
merely  add  the  following  :  I  had  over  200  singers  for  the 
festal  choruses  ;  my  composition  was  set  quite  simply 
for  men's  voices  in  four  parts,  without  accompaniment, 
so  that  the  tenors  had  a  brilliant  field.  It  was  a  windless 
day,  and  all  sang  with  the  greatest  affection  ;  the  effect 
was  solemn  and  stirring.  Mendelssohn's  composition  was 
quite  another  thing  :  brass  instruments  accompanied 
it,  and  "  God  save  the  King  "  was  woven  in  ;  the  chorus 
sang  in  unison  throughout,  and  moreover  in  the  deep  bass 
register,  so  that  the  tenors  made  no  effect  at  all,  and 
hardly  could  even  join  in  :  the  result  being,  that  at 
most  points  one  heard  nothing  but  the  brass,  scarcely 
anywhere  the  voices,  and  as  it  all  sounded  like  "  God 
save  the  King,"  nobody  could  make  head  or  tail  of  it. 
With  mine,  on  the  contrary,  almost  every  word  was 
positively  understood  ;  and  the  whole  town  speaks  of  my 
chorus  alone,  whilst  Mendelssohn's  gets  nothing  but  a 
head-shake.  That's  the  truth. — For  the  rest,  the  cere- 
mony was  really  very  brilliant,  and  I'll  describe  it  to  you 
circumstantially  by  mouth.— 

Should  you  be  fretting  about  my  health,  you'd  be 
doing  wrong  :  I'm  brisk  and  well,  my  head  is  clear  ; 
even  my  lower  regions  are  behaving  well  again  now,  I 
hardly  suffer  at  all  from  gripe.  Nevertheless,  I  should 
like  to  take  a  cure  with  you. — The  nuisance  is,  that  this 
bad  weather  often  debars  me  from  my  walks  now.  I 
have  a  deal  to  do  ;  when  I've  no  opera,  there's  some 


22  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

shindy  or  other  with  the  Liedertafel.  My  composition  is 
all  but  finished  now,  and  I  count  on  a  great,  an  inspiring 
effect  for  it. 

The  day  before  yesterday  the  King  commanded  me 
to  the  Bastei,  with  a  few  singers  and  bandsmen  ;  luckily 
the  weather  turned  out  so  bad,  that  the  party  was  put  off 
again. — Tomorrow  is  the  feast  of  Corpus  Christi,  and  I 
must  conduct  at  church  in  ziniform,  as  it  is  the  highest 
of  saint' s-days  and  every  one  appears  in  gala.  We  had 
never  given  that  a  thought— 

Our  operas  are  going  excellently,  and  since  for  my 
own  part  I'm  holding  next  to  no  rehearsals  now  [after 
Lipinski's  pretest—see  Life  ii,  21]  the  band  is  perfectly  amazed 
at  my  aplomb,  as  with  the  Stumme,  besides  thanking  me 
for  saving  it  trouble. 

The  other  day  I  dined  at  Flemming's. — Yesterday  we, 
the  Heines,  Tichatscheck,  and  so  on,  were  at  the  Wrist's, 
who  had  much  exerted  herself  for  her  dinner-party.  For 
that  matter,  her  health's  in  a  very  bad  way  ;  at  any 
moment  she  cannot  sing,  and  all  believe  she  won't  be 
able  to  much  longer.  They  speak  of — consumption  of  the 
windpipe  :  isn't  that  dreadful  !— Liittichau,  for  another 
thing,  is  expected  back  very  soon  ;  I  am  thoroughly  glad 
of  it,  for  sake  of  my  leave  too. 

And  now  I  must  conclude,  as  we  have  a  rehearsal. 
Reconcile  yourself  to  the  bad  weather  with  the  thought 
that  it's  bound  to  improve  soon  ! — If  you  remark  any  sort 
of  progress  in  your  health,  you  may  easily  imagine  how 
happy  it  will  make  me  !  Do  everything  for  it,  and  write 
me  in  plenty  of  time  if  money  runs  short,  do  you  hear  I—- 
Fare well,  my  dear  good  \Vife  !  Take  my  thanks  for  your 
love,  and  rest  assured  of  mine  for  ever  ! 

y  RICHARD. 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  23 

Kindest  regards  to  the  Mama. 

Don't  you  despise  my  snuffbox!     People  value  it  at 
about  100  thaler — particularly  the  work.— 

9. 

DRESDEN,  20.  June  1843. 

MY    VERY    BEST    MlENEL, 

A  great  confusion  has  arisen,  and  I'm  sorry  to 
say,  it  hasn't  even  yet  resolved  itself  into  my  being  able 
to  report  to  you  duly  to-day.  I  received  a  note  from 
Cecilie,  to  wit,  telling  me  that  N.  was  leaving  Paris  the 
J2th  of  this  month,  and  would  travel  to  Dresden  without 
any  halt.  This  piece  of  news  so  plumped  upon  me  that 
there  naturally  was  nothing  else  to  do  than  fold  my  hands 
till  N.  arrived  here.  Two  evenings  running  has  your 
father  been  to  the  railway  to  receive  N.,  and  I  instructed 
Jette  to  come  and  tell  me  at  7  this  morning  in  case  N. 
came  last  night,  so  that  I  might  inform  you  at  once  ; 
only — the  person  who  doesn't  appear  to  have  come  is 
my  N.,  since  Jette  hasn't  shewn  her  face  yet — and  now 
it's  half  past  8.  We' needn't  grow  uneasy,  all  the  same, 
for  I  can  only  suppose  that  N.'s  departure  from  Paris  has 
been  delayed  a  little — and  that  no  doubt  will  prove  to  be 
so.  As  soon  as  N.  arrives,  she  is  to  have  a  day's  rest  at 
the  old  man's,  and  then  I  shall  give  her  a  few  thaler  to 
go  on  with,  also  a  letter,  and  despatch  her  to  Lotte  at 
Zwickau  per  post  : — that  will  be  right,  will  it  not  ?  After 
your  return,  you  know,  you  can  go  and  see  her  there. 

For  the  rest,    though  cordially  enough,  Cecilie  writes 
rather  touchily  — and — perhaps  she's  not  quite  wrong.— 
I  enclose  you  her  couple  of  lines. 

Avenarius  wrote  me,   before  leaving  Leipzig,  that  he 
would  no  longer  be  able  to  come  to   Dresden  :   if  I   had 


24  RICHARD   TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

anything  more  to  say  to  him,  would  I  put  it  in  writing. 
So  I  just  forwarded  him  his  out-of-pockets,  and  there's 
an  end  ! 

After  another  talk  with  Frau  Wachter,  I  have  just 
engaged  the  maid-servant.  She  is  contented  with  all 
your  conditions  ;  I  gave  her  a  thaler  as  earnest,  and  she 
will  put  in  her  appearance  a  week  before  Michaelmas. 

—The  fine  weather  now  set  in  has  heartily  delighted 
me  for  your  sake.  You  will  go  for  good  walks  now,  no 
doubt,  and  help  Peps  hunt  for  bones  ! — Your  last  letter, 
my  good  child,  I  read  at  2  on  Sunday  morning  !  !  Just 
fancy  !  After  rising  at  4  on  Saturday  again,  to  finish 
my  big  composition,  about  8  I  received  orders  to  beat  up 
singers  and  horn-players  for  an  excursion  to  the  Bastei 
with  the  Court.  Everything  went  right  ;  at  Pillnitz, 
dinner  with  the  Court  ;  back  again  there  from  the  Bastei 
by  water,  now  singing,  now  blowing.  The  King  was  as 
pleased  as  Punch, — but  it  was  nearly  2  before  we  got 
home  again  !— 

Then  I  found  your  letter,  and  read  it  with  the  greatest 
joy — but  I  was  so  fatigued  that  it  was  not  until  I  rose 
that  I  discovered  I  had  gone  to  bed  in  my  cravat  and 
stick-up  collar.— 

That  old  donkey,  Reissiger,  has  just  interrupted  me — 
and  now  I  must  dress  for  the  rehearsal  of  Sonnambula, 

-As  I  shall   probably  be  writing  you  again  by  next 
post,  about   N.,    I'll   conclude  for  to-day,    and  salute  and 
kiss  you,  my  dear  wife,    from  my  whole,    whole  heart  !— 
The    time    when    we    shall    meet    again    is   drawing   ever 
nearer — how  happy  we  shall   be  !— 

Best  love,  and  keep  good  to  me  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  25 

I  had  almost  forgotten  it.  My  mother  is  coming  to 
Teplitz  on  Thursday,  and  begs  you  to  order  her  old  room, 
or  the  next  one,  at  the  Blue  Angel,  also  a  bedroom  at  the 
back  for  the  servant  and  Klare's  children  ( — who  are 
coming  with  her)  ;  it  wasn't  to  cost  more  than  4  thaler 
a  week  ! 

Do  me  the  kindness  of  attending  to  it. 

1O. 

DRESDEN,  y>.  June  1843. 

MY    VERY    BEST    MlNEL, 

Best  thanks  for  your  dear  letters.  Your  quite 
unwonted  writing-fit  is  proof  to  me  what  heartfelt  love 
can  bring  to  pass.  For  my  part,  I  finished  my  instru- 
mentation also  yesterday,  and  to-day  at  least  may  take  a 
rest  from  writing  !  Last  Tuesday  I  rehearsed  the  vocal 
part  of  my  new  composition  for  the  first  time  :  already  it 
went  better  than  I  expected  ;  immediately  it  had  been 
sung  through  once,  a  general  outburst  of  enthusiasm 
among  the  200  singers  present  found  vent  in  prolonged 
applause.  We  rehearse  in  a  large  hall  in  the  Briihl 
Garden,  so  several  of  us  went  off  to  the  restaurant  to  take 
a  little  something  after  the  rehearsal  ;  upon  my  entry  I 
was  greeted  by  the  Peace  chorus  from  Rienzi,  performed 
by  the  band  :  when  it  was  over,  the  whole  audience 
applauded  quite  alarmingly  ;  then  I  learnt  that  it  had  just 
been  played  a  third  time  by  desire.  Directly  after,  they 
played  the  overture  to  Rienzi  again,  now  hackneyed 
every  day,  and  from  all  sides  there  went  up  the  same 
hurrah.  Hartung  afterwards  told  me,  he  had  got  up  this 
overture  to  his  own  misfortune,  for  it  killed  his  people 
through  continually  being  asked  for  ;  thus  it  had  just 
been  redemanded  for  the  third  time. — 


26  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

I  shan't  go  out  at  all  to-day,  but  take  a  rest ;  for  I'm 
quite  knocked  up  and  my  nerves  are  very  agitated,  in 
spite  of  my  looking  so  stout  and  fat  as  you  are  always 
told.  But  that  comes  of  this  respectable  life,  you  see,  of 
no-excess,  of  going  u  to  bed  at  10,  often  in  fact  as  early 
as  half-past  9." — At  any  rate  my  constitution  must  be 
fairly  tough  now,  or  I  couldn't  keep  going  with  my  nerves 
in  this  excited  state  ;  even  when  I'm  quite  done  up 
through  some  over-exertion,  precisely  through  my  sound 
constitution  I  rapidly  recover.— 

The  Cassel  operatic  regisseur  has  been  here  ;  he  told 
me  a  lot,  and  had  never  done  impressing  on  me  what  it 
meant  for  my  Hollander  to  have  been  received  still  more 
warmly  on  its  second  performance,  since  the  Cassel  public 
was  fully  5  times  colder  than  the  Dresden,  for  instance. 
Spohr,  too,  has  written  me  again  very  cordially,  indeed 
affectionately,  and  informed  me  of  the  fresh  success. — Lutti- 
chau  is  taking  Cassel  en  route,  and  arrives  here  the  5th.— 

Enough  of  myself  for  to-day  ;  now  for  you  !  At 
yesterday's  rehearsal  a  singer  brought  me  compliments 
from  Dr.  Ullrich,  who  sent  word  you  were  getting  on 
very  well.  Exactly  what  you  had  written  me  yourself. 
See,  that  delights  me  more  than  anything  !— 

It  likewise  is  a  great  delight  to  me  that  you  mean  to 
arrive  by  the  4th,  and  suits  me  in  every  respect  ;  though 
in  no  event  could  you  have  heard  the  general  rehearsal 
before  the  6th,  at  8  in  the  morning. — I  hope  to  be  able  to 
come  and  meet  you,  and  am  looking  forward  as  a  god  to 
finding  you  quite  well  again  ! — I  have  no  anxiety  about  my 
leave,  as  I  fancy  Luttichau  will  now  begin  to  shew  some 
true  consideration  for  me. — That's  my  opinion,  and  if  at 
last  we  have  really  good  weather  into  the  bargain,  I  think 
we  may  enjoy  ourselves  nicely  for  once  ! — 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  27 

All  your  orders  shall  be  obeyed,  and  I've  forwarded 
the  letter  to  L,otte. — But  it  has  just  struck  9,  and  it's  high 
time  this  letter  went  off  to  the  post,  if  if  s  to  catch  it  too. 
God  preserve  you,  and  keep  you  in  health  !  Give  my 
best  regards  to  all,  and  hold  me  dear  until  we  meet  again  ! 
Perhaps  I  shall  be  writing  once  again,  before  ;  for  certain, 
I  am  always  thinking  of  you  !  Farewell,  my  good  Wife, 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

11. 

DRESDEN,  i.  July  1843. 

MY  VERY  BEST  WIFE, 

I  have  just  received  the  accompanying  letters  to 
yourself  as  enclosure  to  a  couple  of  lines  from  Troger  ; 
they  must  have  been  posted  before  Troger  received  your 
last  letter,  which  I  despatched  at  once,  however.  They 
still  speak  of  nothing  but  silver,  and  I  do  not  even  yet 
know  if  the  watch  is  also  there  ;  but  that,  no  doubt,  will 
soon  transpire. — This  moment  it  occurs  to  me  that  you 
won't  get  this  letter  till  Monday,  and  as  you'll  be  here 
yourself  by  Tuesday  evening,  you  would  receive  the 
enclosures  time  enough  if  I  kept  them  to  give  to  you  here. 
But  why  so  stingy,  when  I  can  take  this  opportunity  of 
breathing  a  few  hearty  words  to  assure  you  how  fond  I  am 
of  you,  and  how  much  I'm  looking  forward  to  your  speedy 
advent  ? — 

I  haven't  arrived  yet  at  writing  to  Cecilie,  so  I  shall 
postpone  it  altogether  now  until  after  the  Choral  festival. 
Before  then  I  should  like  to  have  ended  another  job,  which 
I  didn't  want  to  put  off  any  longer,  namely  the  reduction 
of  Rienzi  to  one  evening  ;  I  have  made  a  beginning 
already,  and  expect  to  finish  it  in  a  few  days.  It  will  be 
well,  you  see — in  case  I  do  obtain  my  leave,  as  I  hope— 


28  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

to  have  everything  behind  me,  so  as  to  be  able  to  devote 
all  my  attention  to  my  new  opera  \_Tannhauser\. 

Now  I  shall  soon  be  able  to  convince  myself  whether 
you're  really  so  well  and  jolly  as  I  am  assured  !  So  you 
will  get  here  on  Tuesday  the  4th  ?  That's  fine  ! — Every- 
thing is  prepared,  and  most  longingly  awaits  you. 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

12. 

DRESDEN,  ii.July,  afternoon. 

1843. 

Mienel,  Mienel,  I've  got  my  leave  !  I  really  must  say 
I've  been  very  pleased  with  Luttichau  again,  and  espe- 
cially with  his  whole  manner  of  treating  me.- — At  first, 
when  I  spoke  up  for  the  singer  that  cur  .  .  d  Mine 
Konneritz  had  recommended  so,  there  was  nothing  to  be 
done  with  him  at  all — he  was  a  perfect  goat  ; — but  when 
I  began  about  myself,  and  asked  if  I  might  entertain  any 
hope  of  doing  something  for  my  health  this  summer,  his 
face  simply  beamed,  and  with  the  utmost  graciousness  said 
he  :  "  Dear  Wagner,  you  know  how  fond  I  am  of  you, 
and  therefore  can  easily  imagine  that  your  health  is  of 
even  more  account  to  me  than  the  benefit  you  are  to  the 
institute  committed  to  me.  People  like  yourself  must 
be  kept  in  good  spirits  and  health  before  all  things,  so 
merely  tell  me,  From  when  do  you  wish  to  be  free  ? ' ' 
"From  the  middle  of  this  month,"  said  I- — "And  for 
how  long  ?  " —  "  Until  the  middle  of  next  month  again  " 
"  Good  !  Just  dispose  of  your  time  at  your  pleasure  !  " 
etc.  That  completely  touched  me,  and  I  didn't  disguise 
it  from  him  : — for  you  must  remember,  there's  very  much 
to  do  just  now — two  new  operas  to  be  got  up  with  Moriani 
in  a  jiffy. — 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  29 

So  I'm  coining,  my  chick  !  Only  I  shall  be  unable 
to  come  before  Monday  or  Tuesday  next  week.  Firstly, 
I  want  to  conduct  yesterday's  opera  once  more, — then  I'm 
invited  to  Liittichau's  for  Sunday  ;  and  lastly,  my  Rienzi 
scribbling  won't  be  finished  earlier,  and  I  do  so  want  to 
have  everything  done  and  behind  me,  to  be  able  to  lead 
as  careless  a  life  with  you  as  if  there  were  nothing  in  all 
the  world  to  weigh  us  down.  Indeed  I'm  looking  forward 
to  it  very,  very  much — to  ease  and  repose  after  labours 
ended,  and  strengthening  for  fresh.— 

I  hope  you  got  back  comfortably  to  Teplitz.  Poor 
woman,  you  are  certain  to  be  having  no  good  day  to-day, 
through  the  news  [death  of  Minna's  brother]  you  had  to  bring 
the  Mama  ! — Nor  can  I  possibly  tell  you  how  grieved  I 
was  in  general  for  you  here  !  Make  up  for  it  all  well 
now,  through  rest  and  comfort  in  the  way  you  live.  See, 
to-day's  tidings  must  surely  cheer  you  up  again,  for  they 
prove  how  well  I  stand  here,  and  with  what  distinction 
I'm  treated. 

Now,  goodbye  for  to-day.  Heartiest  love  to  good 
Klare,  and  console  your  Mania  to  the  best  of  your 
power  !— 

I  shall  write  you  again  the  exact  date  of  my  coming. 
Till  then,  my  dear  brave  wife,  fare  as  well  as  you  can, 
and  fondly  remember 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

13. 

DRESDEN,  \6.July  1843. 

DEAREST  MIENEL, 

In  all  haste  I  must  tell  you  my  intense  surprise 
at  your  not  having  yet  written  me  at  all  !      Say,  are  you 


30  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

cross  with  me,  perhaps  ?     Have  I  done  anything  to  you  ? 
Or — are  you  unwell  ? — You  make  me  most  uneasy  !— 

Then  I  also  wanted  to  tell  you,  I  cannot  get  away 
from  here  till  Wednesday, — I  have  to  conduct  once  more 
on  Tuesday:  also  the  Rienzi  scribbling  won't  be  done 
before. — So  I  shall  come  in  any  case  on  Wednesday 
evening  : — dress  Peps  in  his  best,  and  build  the  archlet 
of  triumph.  Do  you  hear? — -Wednesday  !  I  have  leave 
then  till  the  i5th  August. 

There  was  a  very  fine  article  on  my  ' '  Liebesmahl ' ' 
in  the  Leipziger  Zeitung.— 

I  must  send  this  letter  off  at  once,  or  it  won't  leave 
till  tomorrow. — 

Adieu,  Wife  of  my  heart  !  Get  well  and  cheerful  ! 
There'll  soon  be  altogether  with  you,  heart  and  body, 

Thy 

RICHARD. 
Best  love  ! 

14. 

BERLIN,  ^.January  1844. 

MY    VERY    BEST    MlENEL, 

I  feel  sure  this  letter  will  still  find  you,  which  it 
really  oughtn't  to  have,  had  you  complied  with  my  wish 
and  left  Dresden  by  Thursday  morning  [same  date].  So 
listen,  dear  Child — I'm  all  right,  and  have  already  taken 
various  steps  to-day,  though  I  didn't  reach  my  hotel  till 
getting  on  for  3  in  the  afternoon.  In  any  event  you 
must  come  now,  for  my  opera  \_Hollander\  is  not  to  be  till 
Sttuday,  instead  of  Saturday, — it  was  all  a  mistake  of  the 
secretary's,  who  wrote  "  6th  "  in  mere  error  for  "  yth." 
As  a  fact,  it  suits  me  better,  for  I  shall  be  present  at 
three  grand  stage-rehearsals  this  way  :  there  have  already 
been  Jour  band-rehearsals,  and  Kiistner  has  assured  me 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  31 

the  opera  was  already  going  very  well.  Tomorrow, 
accordingly,  I  shall  listen  and  not  conduct  ;  but  if  the 
conductor  doesn't  satisfy  me,  on  Friday  and  Saturday  I 
shall  hold  the  rehearsals  myself.  From  the  band's  side 
I've  been  told  fine  things  already  by  Conzertmeister 
Ganz. — Meyerbeer  also  returned  here  yesterday  ;  1  haven't 
succeeded  in  catching  him  yet  ;  shall  try  again  at  8 
tomorrow  morning.  He  may  be  of  great  service  to  me, 
after  all — particularly  with  the  King. 

So  listen,  dear  infant  !  It's  no  good  your  objecting 
any  more  : — you  shall  still  see  Rienzi  at  Dresden  on 
Friday — if  it  really  comes  off ;  but,  Saturday  morning 
you  must  just  arise  at  half  past  4,  get  to  the  station  at 
half  past  five — or  half  past  6,  I'm  not  sure  which — and 
travel  direct  in  one  day  to  Berlin,  where  you'll  put  up  at 
the  Hotel  de  Rjissic  with  me  ; — I  have  settled  everything 
about  the  room  already.  If  there  is  a  human  possibility, 
I  shall  meet  you  myself  at  the  station  ;  if  not — merely 
ask  for  the  Hotel  de  Russie's  carriage,  which  will  drive 
you  to  me  ; — but  I  shall  be  there  myself  in  any  case. 

So — I  expect  you  for  certain.  Don't  go  and  spoil 
my  great  delight  ! — I  have  the  best  hopes  of  success  for 
my  opera.  It  must  have  made  a  hit  even  at  the  rehearsals, 
to  judge  by  Kiistner's  smirking  face.- — - 

Na — you're  coming,  aren't  you  ?  ! — 

Kindest  regards  to  the  good  assistant  [August  Roeckel] 
and  Tichatscheck. — Tell  Fischer  I  couldn't  get  back 
before  Tuesday  or  l\Tednesday : — ought  I  to  write  as  much 
to  Iviittichau  ?  Perhaps  not  !  Farewell.  Greetings  and 
kisses  from  the  whole  heart  of 

Thy 

faithful,  fond,  good 


32  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

15. 

Sunday ;  2.30. 
7 '.  January  1844. 

DEAR  MINNA, 

You  have  no  idea  how  sad  you  made  me  yesterday 
through  not  coming  ;  and  now  I  have  just  returned  from 
the  railway  again,  where  I  went  to  await  you  a  second 
time — and  again,  you  hadn't  come  ! — -Now  I  find  your 
letter  [wraiting  for  me]  and  see  that  I'm  right,  after  all, 
in  being  a  little  quick  in  everything  :  something  really 
comes  off  with  it  ;  whilst  hesitation  leads  to  nothing.— 
Get  along,  I'm  very  cross  with  you.  If  there  were  any 
chance  of  this  letter  reaching  you  by  midday  Monday, 
I  should  just  have  one  more  try, — namely,  to  induce  you 
to  take  the  express  to  Juterbock  on  Monday  evening  and 
get  here  Tuesday  noon.  For  Tuesday  is  my  opera's 
second  performance,  which  I've  been  pressingly  invited 
to  conduct  as  well.  I  have  held  the  two  full  rehearsals 
myself,  and  also  am  to  conduct  this  evening  ;  the  repre- 
sentation will  go  very  well,  Botticher,  Ziesche  and  Mantius 
are  excellent;  in  spite  of  the  house's  smallness,  you 
wouldn't  recognise  the  machinery  again,  after  Dresden  :— 
I  am  expecting  a  good  success— God  grant  it  ! — I  shall 
write  to  L,iittichau  tomorrow  morning,  [that]  I  cannot 
return  before  Thursday  noon  ! — 

Amend  your  ways  ! — I'm  very  cross  with  you,  because 
I'm  much  too  fond  of  you  and  miss  you  too  unwillingly  ! 

Kind  regards  to  the  assistant  ! 

Farewell  ! 

Thy  RICHARD. 

16. 

BERLIN,  the  Wi  of  January  1844. 
/  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

God  knows  whether  you  will  receive  this  letter,  dear 
Minna,    or    whether    you   really    did    receive    my    yester- 


DRESDEN    PERlOfr  33 

day's  in  time  to  start  for  here.  Anyhow  I'm  writing, 
since  I  want  to  have  a  chat  with  you  that  way  at  least. 
Yesterday  I  did  not  get  to  bed  till  after  midnight,  and 
at  5  this  morning  I  had  lights  brought  and  the  stove  lit, 
as  I  couldn't  lie  sleepless  any  longer.  Had  you  been  here, 
you  see,  we  should  have  sat  up  chattering  the  whole  night 
through, — -but  there  was  only  me  ! 

Lord,  what  doesn't  one  experience  on  such  an  evening 
as  this  last  ;  what  hasn't  my  mind  gone  through  again  ! 
It  was  one  of  the  most  critical  nights  for  me  !  — Just  think, 
—with  this  fantastic  opera,  completely  off  the  beaten  track, 
and  offering  from  the  outset  so  little  that  is  grateful  or 
attractive,  I  was  making  my  bow  before  a  public  entirely 
strange  to  me  !  I  felt  that  keenly  :  in  all  this  audience 
there  wasn't  a  single  personal  friend  of  mine,  not  a  soul 
prepossessed  in  my  favour, — -everybody  sitting  in  ordinary 
cold  curiosity,  thinking  :  H'm,  what  sort  of  a  thing  will  it 
be,  this  Flying  Dutchman  ? — After  the  overture,  not  a  hand 
stirs  ;  the  melancholy  first  act  is  listened  to  with  strained 
and  wondering  attention,  without  any  one  knowing  which 
way  to  take  it  ;  with  difficulty  is  the  singer  a  little  rewarded 
here  and  there  ; — in  short,  I  grow  aware  of  my  position- 
but  don't  despair,  for  I  see  that  the  representation  itself  is 
going  extraordinarily  well.  The  second  act  commences, 
and  I  gradually  convince  myself  that  my  aim  is  attained  : 
I  have  cast  a  spell  about  the  audience,  and  the  first  act 
has  attuned  it  to  a  key  which  makes  it  capable  of  follow- 
ing me  whithersoever  I  will.  The  interest  increases, 
suspense  is  changed  to  agitation,  exaltation — enthusiasm  ; 
and  before  the  curtain  falls  a  second  time,  I  celebrate  a 
triumph  such  as  certainly  but  few  have  reaped.  Never, 
not  even  at  Dresden  with  Rienzi,  have  I  seen  or  heard 
such  a  prolonged  outburst  of  enthusiasm  as  that  which 
VOL.  i  3 


34 

followed  the  curtain's  fall  here  : — one  could  see  and  hear 
that  among  the  whole  assembly,  high  and  low,  prince, 
lord  and  beggar,  there  was  not  a  single  person  who  didn't 
cheer  like  mad.  And  when  at  last  I  appeared  with  the 
singers,  you  would  have  thought  the  house  was  coming 
down  !— 

So  I  had  an  easy  job  with  the  last  act  :  the  scenery 
went  as  excellently  as  its  effect  ;  everything  was  sung 
and  acted  very  briskly,  and  came  to  a  surprisingly  rapid 
close,  which  itself  was  represented  very  well.  Long  ere 
the  curtain  fell  the  tumult  broke  loose  afresh,  and  it 
roared  for  an  eternity  before  I  could  thread  my  way  out 
from  the  orchestra  and  come  forward  with  the  singers, 
who  were  waiting  for  me  once  more. — In  brief,  my  dear 
wife,  I  have  scored  a  remarkable  triumph  :  those  alone 
can  judge  the  extraordinary  and  unprecedented  nature  of 
my  victory  here,  who  are  in  a  position  to  weigh  exactly 
all  the  circumstances,  the  present  state  of  our  operas,  the 
complete  and  startling  variance  of  my  departure  in  this 
Hollander. — 

The  representation  was  entrancingly  fine  ; — all  sang 
and  acted  like  gods — I  could  have  eaten  them  ; — the 
Marx  quite  turned  my  head  :  if  there  was  anyone  I 
expected  little  from,  it  was  she — and  how  she  cheated 
and  surpassed  my  expectations  !  I'll  say  no  more  to  you, 
than — insane  as  it  sounds — the  Devrient  will  have  to  look 
to  her  laurels. — The  only  opportunity  I  had  of  letting  off 
a  little  steam  after  the  performance,  was  supplied  me  by 
the  Devrient.  She  had  sent  for  me  some  hours  before 
the  theatre, — -I  called,  and  found  her  with  her  lover  ; 
you  know  what  she  is,  but  for  all  her  unconventional ity 
she  greatly  cheered  me  by  her  sympathy.  After  the 
performance  I  spent  another  hour  with  her  ;  she  had 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  35 

suffered  and  rejoiced  with  me,  and  was  highly  pleased 
with  the  success.  Then,  when  I  got  back  to  my  hotel, 
the  landlord  received  me  with  a  congratulation :  his  guests 
had  sounded  the  alarm  already,  and  trumpeted  their  en- 
thusiasm.— How  I  wish  you  had  been  there  !  !  Nay, 
don't  you  think  I  need  be  cross  with  you  ? — I  sat  up  in 
bed  all  night  alone,  and  babbled  to  myself. 

I'm  to  dine  at  Meyerbeer's  to-day,  at  Kiistner's 
tomorrow.  I  haven't  seen  Meyerbeer  yet  since  the  per- 
formance. The  King  was  present,  and  somebody  who 
kept  his  eyes  on  him  assured  me  it  pleased  him  un- 
commonly. Mendelssohn,  at  whose  table  I  have  also 
been  once,  quite  made  me  glad  : — after  the  performance 
he  came  on  the  stage,  embraced  me,  and  congratulated 
me  very  cordially.— 

I  am  writing  to  Liittichau  by  the  same  post,  [that] 
I  shall  reach  Dresden  on  Thursday. 

Adieu,  you  horrid  Wifie  !  If  I'm  cross  with  you, 
don't  let  that  make  you  cross  with  me  ;  it's  all  because 
I'm  so  fond  of  you  !— 

Kind  regards  to  the  assistant.  Farewell  ;  I  shall  soon 
be  back  with  you. 

Thy  RICHARD. 

Address  : 

Hirer  Wohlgeboren 
Madame 

MINNA  WAGNER 

Ostra-Allee  Nr.  6  in  Dresden. 

Should  Madame  Wagner  be  away,  this  letter  is  to  be 
delivered  to  Konigl.  Musikdirektor,  Herr  Rockel,  who  is 
authorised  to  open  it. 


36 

17. 

HAMBURG,  the  \^th  March  1844. 

MY    GOOD    DEAR    MlENEL, 

My  earliest  occupation  here,  after  half  sleeping 
off  my  journey,  is  to  write  to  you.  I've  been  prattling 
with  you  all  the  time,  even  when  I  awoke  last  night  and 
wanted  to  set  my  travel-heated  blood  in  order  by  a  strong 
effervescent  powder  ;  I  had  no  candle,  and  meant  to  feel 
out  the  inscription  on  the  different  packets  :  it  was  un- 
necessary, though,  since  you  prudently  had  made  them 
up  of  different  sizes,  so  that  I  could  recognise  your  fore- 
thought even  in  the  dark.  In  the  morning  I  at  once 
began  my  usual  chat  from  bed  with  you  and  Peps,  to 
pretend  I  still  was  with  you.  It's  nicer  at  home,  how- 
ever !  !  !  And  all  things  considered,  the  Devil  take  our 
quitting  one  another  !— 

I  had  good  luck  with  my  journey's  connections  :  at 
Leipzig  I  caught  the  Magdeburg,  at  Magdeburg  the 
Brunswick  train  ;  from  Brunswick  per  the  evening  mail 
at  9  direct  to  Hamburg,  which  I  reached  yesterday, 
Thursday,  at  7  P.M.  Fatigued  I  was,  and  all  to  pieces, 
particularly  through  what  I  suffered  in  the  crowded 
diligence,  where  any  stretching  of  one's  legs  was  not  to 
be  thought  of,  so  that  at  last  they  not  merely  hummed, 
but  almost  howled.  Arrived  at  my  inn,  I  had  a  good 
rest,  and  simply  sent  for  Cornel.  He  came,  had  forty 
minutes'  talk  with  me,  then  left  me  alone  and  to  sleep. 
All's  well,  dear  child  ;  it  was  a  particular  relief  to  Cornel 
that  I  didn't  arrive  on  a  Friday.  To-day  we  shall  merely 
discuss  and  arrange  this  and  that  ;  tomorrow,  Saturday, 
will  come  the  first  stage-rehearsal,  Thursday  2ist  the  first 
performance,  and  Sunday  the  second,  so  that  I  can  leave 
again  on  Monday  and  be  back  with  you  by  Tuesday 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  37 

evening.  They've  already  been  rehearsing  with  the 
orchestra  ;  and  the  bandsmen  too,  so  Cornel  says,  are 
all  fire  and  flame  for  the  thing.  In  short,  he  counts  upon 
an  unusual  success  ;  which  God  grant  ! 

I  shall  chiefly  pass  to-day  with  Krebs  and  Cornel,  and 
so  find  my  way  about. — I  know  of  nothing  else  here  yet 
to  write  you  of.— 

The  brief  glimpse  I  had  of  Magdeburg  made  a  great 
impression  on  me  ; — the  railway  comes  straight  to  the 
rampart  where  we  so  often  took  our  hopeless  promenades 
in  times  of  becalming.  Lord,  when  I  think  of  that 
rag-fair  !  For  that,  it's  nearly  10  years  now,  since  we 
two  first  came  together  there,  we  ancient  love-birds  !— 
Have  you  slept  in  my  bed  ?  In  thought  I  lay  both  nights 
in  yours  :  had  you  fumbled,  perhaps  you'd  have  found 
me  in  it, — if  Peps  didn't  get  there  before  me. 

Na,  greet  my  friends,  hold  me  dear,  and  take  good 
care  the  children  [imaginary]  don't  throw  the  bed-clothes 
off  at  night  !  Farewell,  you  good  old  sweetheart,  be  of 
good  cheer,  and  reflect  that  not  everything  in  the  world 
is  as  bad  as  this  villainous  pen  which  the  waiter  has 
brought  me  !  Adieu,  Mienel  ;  many,  many  kisses  from 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

Oh,  be  so  good  as  to  beg  Pusinelli,  in  my  name,  to 
send  Concertmeister  David  of  Leipzig  a  textbook  of  my 
oratorio  too,  that  one  may  be  printed  in  accordance 
there. 

18. 

HAMBURG,  22.  March  1844. 

Na,  Mienel,  Rienzi  came  yesterday  and  triumphed 
anew.  It  really  is  no  trifle,  to  give  the  opera  so  that  it 


38  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

makes  a  furore  without  a  true  Rienzi.  After  the  first  act 
such  frantic  applause  still  continued  long  after  the  music 
had  ceased,  that,  having  bowed  already  several  times  from 
the  conductor's  desk  and  then  left  it,  I  was  obliged  to 
return  there  to  acknowledge  yet  another  salvo.  Then  with 
the  second  act  the  greatest  tumult  broke  loose,  and  after  I 
had  likewise  made  my  obeisances  from  the  orchestra,  I  had 
to  appear  upon  the  stage  as  well,  where  I  again  was  received 
with  an  imspeakable  Hurrah.  After  the  3rd  act,  which 
had  a  great  effect  here,  the  same  proceedings  as  after  the 
2nd  :  I  had  to  appear  again.  The  4th  act  had  the  same 
effect  as  its  first  time  at  Dresden  ;  after  the  5th  I  was 
called  again  with  jubilation. 

—That  will  do  for  you,  on  the  outer  success  !  I  can- 
not comprehend  to-day,  how  a  success  of  this  extent  was 
possible  without  Tichatscheck.  With  Wurda,  I  may  say 
I  triumphed  purely  through  the  thing  itself,  since  he 
wasn't  a  patch  upon  Tichatscheck,  although  he  sang 
portions  quite  well  ;  but  the  whole  fellow  is  shockingly 
wooden  !  How  many  thousand  times  I  muttered,  ' '  Heavenly 
Father,  had  I  only  my  Tichatscheck  here  !  "  -The  more 
unequal  to  it  Wurda  was,  however,  the  greater  the  true 
honour  to  me,  and  I  confess  I'm  rather  proud  of  it.  All 
the  rest  was  very  well  sung  for  the  most  part,  with 
exception  of  the  Envoy  of  Peace,  who  was  very  dozy. 
The  choruses  went  excellently,  and  the  most  enraptured 
of  all  were  the  bandsmen  and  singers  themselves  ;  which 
is  a  very  good  token  of  lasting.  Adriano,  as  I  expected, 
was  capital  ;  the  two  demagogues — excellent  !  The  stage 
arrangements  were  still  a  little  shaky,  though  much  was 
mounted  very  well,  some  things  decidedly  better  than  at 
Dresden,  especially  the  ballet.  Confusion  still  prevailed 
in  the  processions,  off  and  on  :  no  great  mischief,  however, 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  39 

since  the  general  effect  was  capital. — I  could  desire  nothing 
more,  than  to  see  the  jubilation  if  Tichatscheck  gives  the 
Rienzi  here  ! 

—I'm  a  wee  bit  run  down,  my  good  Mienel,  as  you 
may  easily  imagine,  but  feel  well  here  on  the  whole.— 
Now  you  have  heard  the  main  thing,  tell  my  friends  ! 
Cornel  reckons  on  upwards  of  20  Rienzi  performances 
this  year  ;  the  tantiemes  will  be  a  relish,  won't  they  ? — 
So  Sunday,  if  no  one  falls  ill,  will  be  our  second  perform- 
ance ;  then  I  shall  depart  on  Monday  morning,  and,  God 
willing,  be  with  you  at  Dresden  Tuesday  evening  by  the 
last  train,  and  embrace  and  kiss  you  to  our  hearts' 
content. 

The  thing  is  going,  good  Wife,  the  ship  speeding 
full  sail. 

May  this  letter  find  you  well  and  hearty  !  Adieu,  for 
the  present  ;  I  shall  be  with  you  on  Tuesday  evening. 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

19. 

BERLIN,  10.  December  1845. 
Wednesday  morning,  9  d clock. 

MY  DEAR  MIENEL, 

It  is  the  third  day  since  I  left  you,  and  things 
have  gone  quite  well  with  me  ;  how  do  they  stand  with 
yourself? — God  grant  you  no  less  passable  a  frame  of  mind 
than  mine  is  now,  for  which  I'm  very  simply  indebted  to 
an  extraordinarily  successful  clearance  which  set  in  on  my 
journey.  Good  Lord,  011  what  things  our  inner  and  outer 
life  often  depends,  when  one  observes  it  closer  !  ! — 

I've  hit  off  everything  most  happily,  till  now  :  Monday 
I  saw  the  Stumme  \_Masanie llo~\  at  Leipzig,  and  Tuesday 
Don  Juan  with  the  Lind  at  Berlin.  Could  things  have 


40  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

fitted  better  ? — On  Monday,  after  being  thrown  from  the 
arms  of  one  relation  to  another,  with  one  or  other  of  them 
running  after  me  everywhere,  I  had  to  dine  at  Luise's. 
and  go  to  Cecilie's  after  the  theatre  ;  all  the  rest  were  also 
there  each  time,  the  Laubes  too.  Lord,  how  pitiful  I 
thought  the  Leipzig  theatre  !  One  will  never  do  much 
with  its  tenor  ;  a  disgusting  stick  !  On  the  other  hand, 
Schmidt  has  already  booked  my  Hollander  for  February  ; 
and  that,  at  any  rate,  they  should  be  able  to  give  capitally  : 
I  saw  Kindermann  as  Pietro  in  the  Stumme,  and  am  very, 
very  pleased  with  the  man — he  has  everything  for  the 
Dutchman. 

So  my  Leipzig  affairs  were  soon  settled,  and  to  my 
satisfaction  ;  the  Berlin  won't  commence  till  to-day,  as  I 
couldn't  undertake  anything  yesterday.  I  did  not  arrive  till 
getting  on  for  2  :  had  dinner,  a  wash  and  brush  up,  secured 
a  ticket  for  that  evening's  theatre,  and  had  only  just  time 
to  call  upon  the  Frommann,  who  is  living  with  a  well-to- 
do  lady  in  very  fine  style.  The  Frommann  could  tell  me 
nothing  of  consequence  regarding  my  affairs  ;  I'm  to  dine 
with  her  to-day,  however — that  is  to  say,  at  her  friend's— 
and  Professor  Werder  will  be  there,  also  the  young  GotJie. 

At  Don  Juan  I  was  terribly  bored  :  Donna  Anna, 
moreover,  isn't  held  to  be  the  Lindas  best  part  ;  she  sang 
the  last  aria  extraordinarily  beautifully,  for  the  first  act  she 
lacks  very  much.  She  has  a  curious  pensive  individuality, 
which  interests  one  much  in  itself,  but  cannot  rise  to  a 
great  dramatic  portrayal.  In  the  first  act  the  Devrient 
is  incomparably  more  affecting.  But  there  :  I  can't 
record  my  verdict  on  the  Lind  so  briefly,  and  therefore 
save  it  up.  All  the  rest  were  wooden,  as  we  have  got 
accustomed  to  in  Don  Giovanni  everywhere.  The 
auditorium  of  the  new  Opera-house  pleased  me  exceed- 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  41 

ingly  ;  beyond  question  it  is  superior  to  our  Dresden  one  ; 
i.e.  more  roomy,  not  so  low,  nor  with  such  a  dead 
acoustic. 

Now,  after  passably  sleeping  it  off  last  night  ( — it  was 
half  past  one  before  I  got  to  bed  at  L/eipzig,  and  I  had  to 
be  up  again  at  5 — ),  I  intend,  God  willing,  to  make  a  start 
with  my  affairs  to-day.  I  shall  go  to  Redern  in  the  first 
place.  Together  with  the  result  of  my  endeavours  I  then 
shall  also  let  you  know  the  date  of  my  return.  Until 
then,  my  ducky,  fare  as  well  as  you  can  !  Best 
love  and  kisses  !  Hold  me  dear,  as  I  you,  and  only 
open  up  again  !  Regards  to  our  people,  and  farewell, 
well  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

20. 

BERLIN,  Friday  morning ;  1845. 

My  dear  good  Wife,  I'm  simply  longing  to  be  home 
again  ;  God  only  grant  I  may  find  all  safe  and  sound  ! 

My  affairs  here  are  ended  for  the  present,  and  I'm 
really  only  staying  on  to-day  to  see  the  Lincl  in  Norma 
and  at  last  redeem  my  promise  to  spend  an  hour  with  the 
Frommann  and  Professor  Werder.  Tomorrow,  Saturday, 
I  go  to  Leipzig,  where  Hermann  has  arranged  a  little 
party  in  my  honour  ;  and  at  n  on  Sunday  forenoon— 
if  God  doesn't  dispose  of  me  otherwise — 1  shall  be  at 
Dresden,  with  you  ! 

Not  to  leave  you  in  the  dark  till  my  arrival,  my 
dicky-bird,  I'll  tell  you  briefly  the  result  of  my  endea- 
vours :— 

i.  Kustner  wants  to  give  my  Ricnzi  in  September 
next. 


42  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

2.  Count  Redern  wants  the  King  to  give  me  the 
commission  to  compose  my  next  new  opera  for  Berlin. 
To  produce  one  of  my  operas  here  between  now  and 
Easter,  is  impossible,  as  I  have  convinced  myself. 

Redern,  at  whose  house  I  dined  in  brilliant  company 
last  Wednesday  (instead  of  at  the  Frommann's,  to  whom 
I  therefore  had  to  send  regrets — ),  wished  to  arrange  for 
me  to  read  my  new  opera-text  \_Lohengrin\  to  the  King 
himself.  For  that,  however,  I  should  have  needed  to 
remain  here  all  next  week  at  least,  since  the  King  left 
yesterday  with  Redern  etc.  for  the  chase,  whence  they  do 
not  return  before  Monday. 

Mine  Meyerbeer,  who  surprised  me  by  great  cordiality 
and  interest,  considers  Redern' s  plan,  that  I  should  get 
Royal  orders  from  Berlin  for  my  next  opera,  the  best  of 
all  ;  her  husband  returns  at  Christinas,  when  everything 
is  to  be  set  to  rights.  If  Ricnsi  can  still  be  brought  out 
in  the  interim,  so  much  the  better  :  Kiistner  has  pledged 
me  his  word  of  honour,  and  struck  hands  on  it  ;  but 
whether  Kiistner  himself  will  still  be  Intendant  after 
Easter,  is  very  doubtful.— 

I'm  merely  telling  you  the  most  important  news  ; 
much  else  by  mouth  !  Now  grant  God  I  find  you  safe 
and  sound  ! 

Farewell,  my  good  Minna  !   to  our  speedy  reunion  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

21. 

BERLIN,  Monday,  20.  Scptbr  1847. 

Well,  my  good  old  Minna,  another  greeting  to  you 
before  I  start  my  Berlin  day's-work  !  I  feel  quite  lonely, 
and  have  a  talk  with  you  at  every  season  of  the  clay, 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  43 

also  dreamed  of  you  both  nights.  How  are  you  get- 
ting on  ?  Are  you  thinking  of  me,  or  must  Papo  first 
remind  you  ? 

I'm  not  quite  straight  with  my  abode  yet  :  owing  to 
Werder's  having  stipulated  that  I  should  only  be  bound 
for  a  week,  the  landlord  went  and  let  the  rooms  engaged 
for  me,  along  with  others,  to  a  family  that  turned  up 
afterwards  and  wanted  the  whole  for  a  longer  term. 
However,  I'm  to  have  two  other  rooms  this  evening  that 
after  all  aren't  bad  ;  only,  I  have  the  inconvenience  of 
not  being  able  to  unpack  before  I'm  settled  in  my  proper 
quarters.— 

Yesterday  I  dined  at  Meinhardt's  hotel,  where  I  hap- 
pened on  Pfister, — Stawinsky,  too,  is  usually  there.  The 
landlord  seems  to  want  to  take  no  payment, — all  the 
better — I  pocket  the  damage  ! — This  Pfister  is  swimming 
in  rapture  and  enthusiasm  about  his  part,  and  behaved 
uncommonly  modestly  to  me  : — -If  I  would  take  him  in 
hand  and  instruct  him  thoroughly,  said  he,  I  might  make 
his  fortune,  etc. — Everything  else  seems  standing  well,— 
I  was  a  deal  with  Taubert  yesterday,  and  found  him  too 
a  decent,  well-intentioned  fellow  who  shewed  much  zeal. 
For  that  matter,  I  am  convincing  myself  that  an  unlimited 
influence  now  stands  at  my  command  here  ;  all  have 
assured  me  the  King's  orders  were  so  categoric,  that  I 
might  ask  for  whatever  I  liked  and  Kiistner  would  have 
to  play  up  to  my  wishes  :  directly  he  opposed  me  in 
anything,  I  had  only  to  go  straight  to  the  Minister  of  the 
Household,  Prince  Wittgenstein — nay,  I  merely  need 
threaten  him  to. — Well,  that  remains  to  be  seen  ! 
Whichever  way, — nowhere  have  I  been  in  such  clover 
as  here.  So — everything  stands  well  !  The  Chorus  is 
to  be  introduced  to  me  to-day  ;  tomorrow  I  mean  to  take 


44  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Pfister  in  hand  alone  ;  Wednesday  there's  a  string- 
rehearsal.  Taubert  has  held  eight  rehearsals  already. 
The  Koster  arrives  tomorrow,  and  on  Wednesday  will 
join  our  rehearsals. — To-day  I  mean  to  polish  off  my 
calls.  Such  is  my  life.— 

At  Leipzig,  where  I  got  shaved  and  ate  a  beefsteak,  I 
had  a  moment's  talk  with  Julius  [a  brother  of  his]  ;  he  bids 
me  tell  you  the  wine  is  quite  ready  and  may  be  bottled  in 
a  month,  even  earlier  if  you  chose  : — another  care  the 
less,  you  see,  for  you  poor  harassed  one  ! 

Now  don't  forget  the  grapes,  good  Mienel  ;  indifferent 
though  Kiistner  is  to  me,  still  I  had  promised  him.— 
Don't  be  cross  at  my  having  forgotten  to  leave  you  the 
money  for  them  !  If  yours  won't  last,  as  I  shouldn't 
be  at  all  surprised,  I  can  send  you  more  money  from 
here  ;  for,  judging  by  appearances,  Berlin  won't  cost 
me  much  : — in  fact,  we  shall  even  put  a  little  by  here. 

God  keep  you  well  and  in  good  heart  !  You  have 
more  reason  to  be  cheerful  now  than  ever,  if  you  reflect 
what  a  long-delayed  good  turning  stands  in  front  of  us 
at  last. — Things  are  bound  to  flourish  with  us,  after 
all.  What  would  you  say  to  a  pretty  country-house  ?  Not 
bad,  eh  ? — 

Greet  your  house-mates,  our  old  pet  animals.  Keep 
well  and  write  me  some  day  !  For  the  matter  of  that, 
I  can't  at  all  see  why  you  shouldn't  come  to  me  sooner. 
If  your  money  is  on  the  decline,  just  come  :  we  shall  be 
living  at  the  King  of  Prussia's  cost  here  !— 

Adieu  !  Farewell,  and  think  of  me  as  frequently  as  I 
of  you,  you  good  old  Minna  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

Regards  to  Rockels  too. 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  45 

22. 

BERLIN,  Thursday,  23.  Sept.  1847. 

To-day,  my  dear  Mienel,  I  am  able  to  report  to  you 
on  sundry  matters  ;  what  I  most  should  like,  however, 
would  be  to  report  receipt  of  news  from  you  !  The  day 
after  tomorrow  it  will  be  a  week  since  I  left  you,  and  I 
may  surely  be  pardoned  for  wishing  to  know  how  you 
are  : — so  write  !— 

The  family  which  took  rooms  after  me  on  the  same 
floor,  and  drove  me  into  others,  has  arrived  ;  it  is  the 
Koster  family,  and  close  beside  me  I  can  now  hear  Adriano 
being  practised.  Strange  coincidence  in  this  big  Berlin  ! — 
Yesterday  I  was  able  to  hold  the  first  regular  ensemble- 
rehearsal,  and  had  much  reason  to  be  satisfied  ;  Taubert 
has  been  industrious,  and  even  the  Koster,  who  only 
reached  here  late  the  night  before,  came  punctually  to  the 
rehearsal  and  shewed  she  had  already  been  learning  up. 
The  choruses  are  splendid  !  Ah,  what  good  it  does  one 
after  Dresden  ! — I  had  taken  Pfister  through  his  paces  the 
day  before  :  the  fellow  has  no  lack  of  good  will,  and  his 
voice  will  pass  muster  if  one  doesn't  think  of  Tichat- 
scheck  ;  but  the  misfortune  is,  the  man  has  learnt  nothing 
at  all,  lacks  the  merest  a  b  c.  All  the  same,  he  isn't 
clumsy,  and  I  was  surprised  how  fairly  rapidly  he  followed 
this  and  that  suggestion  or  example  I  set  him.  The  part 
will  probably  pull  him  through,  and  he  won't  hear  of  a 
doubt  of  endurance  ;  he  declares  he  could  sing  the  whole 
of  it  and  not  break  down.  Good  luck  to  him  ! 

There  are  rehearsals  every  day  now,  and  I've  quite 
enough  to  do.  The  day  slips  by  so  soon  here,  that  I 
haven't  yet  arrived  at  proper  intercourse  with  stage- 
manager,  scene-painter,  or  ballet-master  !  All  last  evening 
I  spent  chatting  with  my  neighbour,  Koster  ;  a  first-rate 


46  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

energetic  poet-brain,  with  whom  I  went  quite  deep.  He 
has  an  excellent  influence  on  his  wife  ;  her  voice  is  very 
agreeable  and  pure — she  will  make  a  very  good  Blsa  here. 

Yesterday  I  also  remembered  it  was  highest  time  to 
announce  myself  to  Meyerbeer,  who  is  here.  I  didn't 
catch  him,  so  left  a  card  to  go  on  with  : — neither  is  he 
likely  to  be  overjoyed  about  my  Rienzi  ! — The  Frommann 
is  to  arrive  to-day  ;  I  have  seen  no  more  acquaintances 
as  yet,  nor  have  I  managed  yet  to  call  on  Tieck  at 
Potsdam.  — 

Dear  child,  the  time  of  your  arrival  is  still  a  long  way 
off ;  at  times  I  fall  into  a  thorough  fit  of  anxiousness  about 
you — when  you  do  not  write  to  me,  I  begin  to  fancy  you 
are  ill  !  What  a  ghastly  thought  it  is  to  me,  that  the 
leaves  at  home  must  now  be  yellowing  and  falling  more  and 
more  ! — On  my  walks  through  the  streets  here,  when  I 
meditate  on  this  Berlin  and  what  it  possibly  might  have 
in  store  for  me,  that  we  even  might  remove  here  in  the 
long  run,  a  strange  enough  feeling  comes  over  me  ;  I 
cannot  form  a  notion  of  it  yet  at  all,  at  all  ! — -Neither  will 
I  vex  my  mind  with  it  much,  for  doubtless  I'm  dreading 
without  any  need.  Lord,  how  contented  one  might  be 
with  Dresden — if  the  nest  had  but  a  little  higher  standing ! 
That  this  place  is  more  the  right  field  for  my  artworks,  is 
undeniable, — but  a  truce  to  these  fantasies  !— 

I  eat  at  Meinhard's— on  a  running  account  (—if  the 
man  takes  any  pay  for  it,  which  I  still  do  not  believe  !) 
My  landlord  also  keeps  a  restaurant,  so  that  I  can  get 
anything  I  like  at  home,  even  dinner  if  I  wanted.— 
Nothing  paid  him  either  yet  ;  so  things  are  going  very 
well,  you  see  !  There's  room  to  take  in  you,  and  even 
Klare  ;  another  point  disposed  of. 

Now,    write   to    me,    you   good   old    girl  ;    God   grant 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  47 

you're  in  good  health  !      Lonelier  than  me  you  are  not — 
for  only  when  we  two  are  together,  are  we  also  not  lonely. 
You  cheerfully  might  come  here  even  earlier,  if  you  would 
eke  out  with  the   Frommann  when  I  can't  be  much  at 
home. — Just  think  it  over.— 

Farewell,  and  remain  an  atom  good  to  me  ! 

Greet — na,  you  know  all  about  that  ! — Adieu,  good 
Minna. 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

X  There's  a  Peps  always  haunting  this  street  ; — it 
surely  can't  be  ours  ? 

Dear  child,  please  tell  Meser  he's  to  send  me  two 
textbooks  of  Taiuihauser  immediately  by  post, 

23. 

BERLIN,  Sunday,  26.  Sept.  1847. 

A  thousand  thanks,  my  good  Wife,  for  your  kind 
letter,  which  has  given  me  a  veritable  heart's- delight 
such  as  I  cannot  possibly  express  !  You  will  hardly 
believe  how  good,  how  lovable,  you  shew  yourself  in  this 
simple  letter  ! — See  now,  it's  quite  splendid  for  us  to  be 
calling  each  other  "Old  Minna,"  "Old  Richard"  ;  what 
is  a  young  passion,  beside  so  old  a  love  ?  Passion  is  only 
beautiful  when  it  ends  in  a  love  such  as  this, — in  and  for 
itself  it's  a  suffering  ;  but  a  love  like  ours  is  pure  enjoy- 
ment— and  a  brief  separation  always  makes  that  quite 
plain, — from  a  long  separation  may  a  kind  Fate  preserve 
it  ! — Isn't  that  so,  good  Wife  ? — Your  tiny  mite  of  doubt, 
too,  I  forgive  you, — I  can  but  smile  at  it,  for  it  really 
sounds  too  droll  to  think  that  I'd  be  casting  eyes  about 
here  in  Berlin  a  bit  because  you  were  away  ! — You  silly 
girl  !  — 


48  RICHARD    TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

Now  for  a  word  on  my  affairs. — They're  standing 
well  ;  I  have  been  able  to  hold  rehearsals  4  mornings 
running  from  10  to  i  o'clock.  Really  I  deem  myself 
lucky  to  get  the  chance  of  holding  such  thorough  re- 
hearsals once  more:  the  whole  company  always  punctually 
on  the  spot  and  in  earnest,  —  no  chattering,  but  undivided 
attention.  When  I  think  how  that  ass  of  a  Dettmer 
always  gave  himself  the  air  of  doing  me  a  favour  by 
singing  this  Colonna  !  Even  if  I  may  have  detected  just 
a  trace  of  such  a  sentiment  in  Botticher  and  the  others — 
they  are  always  in  deadly  earnest  with  their  work  ;  and 
in  return  I  shall  obtain  a  capital  ensemble. — Naturally  I 
have  to  expect  the  best  Irene  here  [Frl.  Tuczek], — the  duet 
in  the  last  act  will  be  a  gem  such  as  we  haven't  known 
at  Dresden  for  many  a  long  day  !  The  Koster  is  almost 
too  good  for  my  Adriano  :  she  has  something  very  virginal 
about  her,  very  womanly — much  more  than  Johanna,  who 
strikes  me,  on  the  contrary,  as  somewhat  bluff, — and  with 
it  an  uncommon  gentle  magic  in  the  voice — in  short,  I'm 
looking  forward  to  her  Elsa  ( — Botticher  has  asked  me  to 
revive  the  Hollander,  also,  with  Frau  Koster  !)  Pfister 
now  takes  the  place  of  Peps  with  me,  he  dogs  my  footsteps 
so,  and  will  not  leave  my  side  ; — not  that  I  have  any 
objection,  since  it  makes  me  more  familiar  with  him  and 
lets  me  take  him  in  hand  with  less  ceremony.  There  can 
be  no  rehearsal  of  Rienzi  for  several  days  this  coining 
week,  on  account  of  the  Koster 's  debut  ;  which  offers  me 
the  advantage  of  concerning  myself  with  Pfister  alone. 
That  will  be  the  crucial  time,  and  I  have  good  reason  to 
hope  it  will  turn  out  well.  From  Monday  wreek  we  shall 
pass  on  to  the  stage  ;  all  the  singers  are  well  up  in  their 
music  now. 

The    Frommann    arrived    on   Wednesday,    and    sends 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  49 

kindest  regards.  She  is  on  the  alert,  and  always  has 
something  of  profit  to  tell  one.  She's  looking  forward  to 
you  immensely,  and  only  begs  you'll  come  as  soon  as 
possible. 

And  now  I  must  accuse  myself:  I'm  living  very 
luxuriously  here,  which  is  rather  disagreeable,  than 
agreeable,  to  me.  This  Meinhard  doesn't  know  how  to 
shew  me  his  esteem,  and  besides  the  most  voluptuous 
feeding  at  his  place  ( — for  that  is  famous  !)  not  a  dinner 
passes  off  without  champagne.  We  sit  down  to  table  at 
3,  and  it  regularly  lasts  till  5  ;  deprecate  as  I  may,  he  will 
declare  it's  good  for  my  inside, — and  thus  much  is  certain, 
the  aperitive  effect  is  constant.  At  5  o'clock  a  drive  in 
Meinhard' s  equipage — then  I  go  on  to  the  Frommann, 
who  always  has  tea  served,  though  I  never  drink  anything 
there  but  cold  water. — You  see,  I'm  accusing  myself,  and 
to  speak  candidly,  however  good  these  people  are,  and 
little  as  I  may  despise  anything  good,  I  honestly  am  pining 
for  your  cuisine — especially  when  you  serve  me  yourself. 
Well,  that  will  come  to  an  end  here  in  time  ;  though 
when  you  arrive,  you  will  have  to  go  through  it  yourself ! 
There's  no  escaping  it,  as  Meinhard  has  said, — for  which 
matter,  the  man's  a  Berlin  droll  of  a  humour  one  can  but 
envy  him  !— 

Enough  of  chatter  :  it's  my  first  altogether  free  day, 
and  I  mean  spending  it  on  a  visit  to  Tieck  at  Potsdam  ; 
the  Frommann  says  he  might  be  of  more  use  to  me 
than  anybody,  with  the  King  ! — Gracious,  I  haven't  seen 
Meyerbeer  even  yet  ! — I've  bought  myself  a  hat,  had 
boots  made,  etc.  ;  you  shall  be  able  to  hold  your  head 
high  when  you  come  !  h'm  !  h'm  ! 

—Kind  regards  to  Rockel  ; — he  is  afraid  my  money 
won't    last    out,    and    has    written    me    as    much, — good 
VOL.    i  4 


50  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

fellow  !  I'll  answer  him  presently. — Certainly,  when  I 
look  as  far  as  the  end  of  October,  one  must  begin  to 
think  of  something  soon  ;  nevertheless,  that  will  all  come 
right. 

Be  as  merry  as  you  can,  and  don't  make  my  heart  so 
heavy  with  the  good  animals.  I'm  sorry  for  them,  of 
course,  when  I  think  that  you  will  soon  be  leaving  them 
as  well  ;  see  how  weak  one  is  ! — But — want  to  delay  it 
as  much  as  you  like — by  Saturday  week  you  have  got  to 
be  here,  in  any  case  ;  and  then  we  shall  have  been  3 
weeks  apart  and  have  another  3  weeks  here  together, 
shan't  we  ? 

Farewell,  you  good  Minna  ;  I  must  go  and  dress,  if 
I'm  to  catch  the  Potsdam  train  at  10  o'clock.  If  you 
write  again  soon,  you'll  make  me  very  happy !  Believe 
that,  and  be  sure  of  it  !  The  joy  of  reunion  will  soon 
be  upon  us — Juchhe  ! — Adieu,  adieu  !  Write  and  come 
soon  !— 

Ever  and  always 

Thy  faithful  RICHARD. 

(For  the  grapes) 

Sr  Hochwohlgeboren 

des  Herrn  E.  von  Kustner 
Intendant  der  Konigl.  Schauspiele 
pp.    pp. 

in  Berlin. 

24. 

BERLIN,  Sunday,  3.  Oct.  1847. 

My  good  Minna,  don't  be  cross  with  me  for  leaving 
it  so  late  before  writing  again  !  I  have  only  a  couple  of 
hours  to  myself  in  the  morning,  and  if  anything  whatever 
crops  up  then,  as  has  always  been  the  case  these  last  few 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  51 

days,  even  that  little  is  lost  to  me. — My  homesickness  is 
as  great  as  any  such  a  thing  can  be  :  but  my  country  is— 
you  and  our  small  household  ;  I  know  of  nothing  in  the 
world  that  could  compensate  me  for  it  !  Only  reflect 
how  we  live,  and  whether  I  indeed  know  any  other 
pleasure  than  my  home  !  You  can't  think  how  I'm 
longing  to  be  able  to  hug  you  to  my  breast  again  and 
shake  off  that  chill  which  freezes  one's  whole  being  at 
last  in  a  strange  land  like  this,  cut  off  from  all  affection  ! 
No,  my  ambition  does  not  carry  far — to  me  a  fair 
heart' s-country  stands  above  all  else  !  And  now,  dear 
child,  our  longest  time  of  separation  is  surely  past  ? 
Thank  God ! ! !- 

You  always  strike  me  in  your  letters  as  not  quite 
well  ;— you  can't  think  how  peculiarly  doleful  that  makes 
me  each  time  !  I  was  perfectly  relieved  when  you  wrote 
me  at  last  that  you  had  really  been  having  those  horrible 
headaches  again  ;  for  I  know  where  I  am  then,  and  alarm 
myself  no  farther.  Poor  little  poppet  !— 

But  tell  me,  what  on  earth  have  you  been  hearing,  to 
give  me  such  strict  warnings  to  be  very  careful  ?  You  are 
so  exhaustive  in  these  warnings,  yet  mention  nothing  that 
has  prompted  them  !  I  expect  it's  nothing  very  serious, 
after  all. — -You  are  completely  right,  that  I  bear  my  heart 
too  much  upon  my  tongue,  and  should  often  do  more 
prudently  to  keep  this  and  that  to  myself,  or  to  ourselves  ; 
I  will  not  contradict  you  in  the  slightest  there,  and  can 
only  excuse  myself  by  saying,  that  is  how  I'm  made. 
God  will  take  care,  however,  that  I  do  not  come  to  grief 
through  empty  chatter!  —  Nevertheless,  you  are  right .'— 
What  would  you  more  ?  ? — 

I  haven't  much  to  report  from  here  this  time  ;  the 
past  week  has  been  rather  a  medlev.  The  Koster  was  to 


52  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

have  made  her  debut  in  Euryanthe  ;  a  sore  throat  pre- 
vented her, — so  rehearsals  of  Rienzi  were  held  again,  but 
chiefly  with  the  orchestra  alone,  which  latter  gives  me 
great  delight.  Last  night  we  had  a  grand  rehearsal  of 
the  scenery  ;  it  will  all  do  fairly,  only  Kiistner  committed 
the  stupidity  of  ordering  the  new  scenes  long  before  he  had 
had  due  consultations  with  the  regisseur  etc., — therefore 
sundry  things  have  not  turned  out  correct.— 

Another  matter.  If  you  were  meaning  to  arrive  here 
Saturday  evening,  you  would  exactly  not  find  me  in, 
and  I  couldn't  come  and  meet  you, — for  we  have  a  big- 
rehearsal  just  that  evening  :  on  a  Friday,  again,  you 
probably  won't  wish  to  travel,  and  before  then  you're 
unlikely  to  be  ready  ; — wherefore  you  perhaps  had  better 
get  here  Sunday  evening — if  not  on  Thursday.  So  write 
me  when  you  mean  to  come  for  certain,  and  whether  you 
will  travel  direct  in  one  day,  as  I  then  should  meet  you 
at  the  station  toward  7  in  the  evening.  —  My  God,  I'd 
rather  you  were  there  already  !  ! 

There  is  a  possibility,  however — you  know  the  stage 
way — of  the  performance  not  coming  off  at  all  on  the 
i5th  : — the  Koster  is  unwell  (?  ?)  on  the  i2th,  i3th  and 
i4th.  However,  I  have  hit  on  this  expedient,  that  the 
actual  full  rehearsal,  particularly  for  the  singers,  shall 
take  place  on  Monday  evening,  the  nth, — Tuesday  a 
rest,  and  on  Wednesday  a  repetition  without  tiring  the 
singers,  and  Thursday  no  rehearsal  at  all,  so  that  every- 
one may  come  to  the  production  nice  and  fresh  ; — the 
Koster  has  agreed  to  it,  and  hopes  to  cause  no  upset  : — 
yet,  who  knows  ?  ! — Not  that  it  would  be  so  great  a 
misfortune,  —  for  the  King  never  goes  to  the  theatre  on 
his  birthday,  and  moreover  they  have  a  prologue  etc., 
which  makes  the  evening  some  half  an  hour  longer  !  ! 


DRESDEN   PERIOD  53 

So  it  strictly  isn't  very  tempting  to  me  ;  but  we  shall 
see. — Only  whatever  betides,  come  you  at  latest  Sunday, — 
the  rest  will  soon  be  squared  ! — 

I  dine  at  Meyerbeer  s  to-day  !  He  is  going  away 
soon  ; — all  the  better  ! 

Make  your  mind  easy  about  Meinhard. — In  the  first 
place  he  really  is  a  jolly,  decent  fellow,  who  considers  me 
an  honour  to  him  ;  and  although  he  has  a  second  reason, 
it's  of  no  harm  to  me  :  he  is  Pfister's  bosom-friend,  to  wit, 
and  most  anxious  that  I  should  give  him  a  lift,  train  him 
thoroughly  in  his  part,  etc.,  to  obtain  him  promotion. — I 
haven't  seen  the  Frommann  for  a  couple  of  days  ;  I  can 
only  go  there  of  an  evening,  and  then  she  is  often 
engaged.  — 

Yet  another  thing,  dear  child.  I  have  commissioned 
Rockel  to  raise  some  more  money  and  give  it  to  you  ; 
firstly,  in  case  you  run  short,  and  secondly,  to  make  us 
safe  here.  So  take  it  !— 

I  have  had  a  cold  all  the  time  such  as  I've 
seldom  experienced  ;  my  head  is  always  in  a  maze,  and 
that  adds  no  little  to  the  discomforts  of  my  existence  : 
but  it  will  do  me  good,  and  save  me  from  severer 
illness.— 

Now,  God  grant  you  may  have  no  more  to  complain 
of,  and  that  our  reunion,  for  which  I'm  longing  so  with 
all  my  heart,  may  find  us  both  quite  well  and  cheerful  ! 
Why  should  it  not  ? — if  we  are  not  in  the  best  of  health 
by  then,  we  shall  soon  become  so  through  the  joy  of 
repossession  ! 

When  my  thoughts  fly  home,  I  often  have  to  cry 
aloud  for  melancholy  ! — Home  !  Home  !  It  tops  all 
else,  for  sure  !— 

Farewell,   my   dear  good  Wife.      Love  me  as  uncon- 


54  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

ditionally   as    I    love    you,    and    then   I'll   ask  no  more  ! 
Farewell  ;   a  thousand  kisses   from 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

25. 

BERLIN,  Wednesday,  6.  Oct.  forenoon, 

1847- 

GOOD,  DEAR  WIFE — I  have  this  moment  returned 
from  a  conference  at  which  I  was  informed  that  the 
doctor  has  declared  the  Tuczek  can't  sing  for  6  days  ; 
owing  to  that  and  other  causes,  the  first  performance  of 
Rienzi  would  be  postponed  for  a  week — i.e.  to  the 
22nd  Oct.  This  didn't  make  much  difference  to  me, 
as  it  would  give  me  another  week  in  Berlin  to  pursue  my 
aims.  Neither  need  it  have  any  influence  on  your  coming 
hither,  for  I  most  earnestly  beg  you  to  get  here  next 
Sunday  notwithstanding  : — let  that  therefore  remain  as 
arranged  : — -only  you  will  have  to  tell  Klare  about  it,  since 
she  would  probably  be  unable  to  stay  here  so  long. 
Tichatscheck  also,  who  intends  coming  here  the  i/j-th, 
you  must  inform  how  things  stand,  and  that  he  should 
await  another  letter  from  me  first,  to  make  quite  certain. 
For  I  perhaps  may  still  find  a  means  of  making  it  possible 
on  the  1 5th,  after  all,  —  whilst  our  rehearsals  are  pro- 
ceeding without  the  Tuczek  ; — but  it  is  uncertain  in  the 
highest  degree.— 

Now  I  mean  to  see  if  this  brief  note  can  catch  the 
midday  train, — so  excuse  my  haste.— 

You  dear  good  Wife,  I  can't  possibly  tell  you  how 
much  I'm  looking  forward  to  you  !  Farewell  till  then  ! 
On  Sunday,  I  hope,  I  shall  see  you  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  55 

26. 

VIENNA,  \\.July  1848. 

BEST  WIFE, 

My  heartiest  love,   to  begin  with,    and  the  wish 
that  this  letter  may  find  you  in  good  health  and  spirits  ! 

I've  only  just  attained  sufficient  repose  to  sit  down  and 
write  to  you  ;  the  first  two  days  in  Vienna  set  me  in  a 
regular  turmoil,  particularly  through  the  quantity  of 
running  about.  But  now  for  my  history  ! — The  journey 
was  a  slow  one  :  no  farther  than  Gorlitz  I  had  to  wait 
4  hours  (Hr.  Laforgue  was  my  companion).  Not  until 
8  in  the  evening  did  I  reach  Breslau  :  after  a  hurried 
look  at  the  town,  I  called  on  Mosewius,  who  was  im- 
mensely delighted  to  see  me  ;  we  sat  up  together  till  i. 

Next  day,  Saturday,  the  train  didn't  start  for  Vienna 
till  2  P.M.  :  after  an  awful  night — for  3rd  class  on  the 
Austrian  line  was  a  torment  of  hell  ! — I  reached  Vienna 
at  8  on  Sunday  morning,  and  put  up  for  the  first  at  an  inn. 
How  many  100  stairs  I  climbed  on  Sunday  in  search  of  a 
suitable  room,  I  know  not  ;  all  I  do  know,  is  that  I 
nearly  succumbed  to  fatigue.  Finally,  in  a  small  side 
street  leading  to  the  Stephans-Platz  I  found  a  cheap 
room,  8  gulden  the  fortnight  ;  Monday  forenoon  I  moved 
in,  and  now  have  slept  my  first  night  there.  There  you 
have  my  journey's  calendar  :  now  for  the  impressions  !— 

Good  Minna,  what  would  you  not  have  said,  if  you 
had  been  with  me  this  time  !  Even  at  Breslau  I  believed 
I  was  in  Paris  again,  as  compared  with  Dresden  :  this 
magnificent  folk-life  !  Citizens  with  white  staves  ;  instead 
of  police,  the  National  Guard  in  blouses  and  plumed 
hats  ;  public  hawkers  at  every  corner,  selling  placards, 
"There  is  no  more  Monarchy  (with  inauguration  of  the 
two-chamber  system),"  etc.  At  a  station  in  Moravia  wre 


56  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

met  the  new  Federal  Governor  (Reichsverweser)  ;  every 
station  decorated  with  German  flags.  But  Vienna— I 
avow  ! — seen  for  the  first  time  again  on  a  fine  bright 
Sunday,  it  quite  bewitched  me.  It  was  a  rediscovered 
Paris,  only  more  beautiful,  gayer  and  German.  During 
the  1 6  years  I  hadn't  seen  Vienna  the  whole  city  has 
been  renovated  :  its  half-million  inhabitants,  all  bedecked 
with  German  colours,  marched  through  the  streets  on 
Sunday  as  in  triumph, — on  Saturday,  through  the  energy 
of  the  National  Committee,  a  feeble,  incompetent  ministry 
had  fallen  !  You  should  have  seen  these  people's 
physiognomy  ;  everything  that  repels  you  in  the  Dresden 
populace,  would  attract  you  here.  The  National  Guard, 
dressed  almost  militarily,  with  broad  3-colour  scarfs 
of  silk  ;  the  students  (8000)  in  old-German  gowns,  with 
plumed  caps  on  their  heads,  long  bayonet-muskets  and 
sabres,  keep  watch  :  nearly  all  I  saw  were  handsome 
fellows.  And  then  this  opulence,  this  life  !  this  original 
garb  of  the  women,  an  entirely  new  shape  of  bonnet  with 
feathers  and  German-tricolour  ribbons.  On  almost  every 
house  a  German  flag.  And  then  the  street-criers,  men, 
women,  children  :  "  Fall  of  the  Pillersdorf  ministry  !  " 
i  kreuzer  ;  "The  Americans  will  not  forsake  the 
Germans  !  "  i  kreuzer.  ' '  War  on  the  Russians  !  "  i 
kreuzer.  "  Final  decease  of  the  aristocracy  !  "  one  kreuzer. 
So  it  goes  on.  But  everything  gay,  serene  and  youthful  ! 
Nothing  ugly  or  low  have  I  come  across  yet  :  everyone 
amiable,  noble  and  blithe  !  God,  how  common  and 
greasy  does  a  certain  town  compare  in  my  eyes  ! — Sunday 
night  I  was  at  the  Theater  an  der  Wien  ;  they  gave 
"Scenes  from  the  Life  of  Napoleon  "  — Hr.  Wohlbriick 
starring  as  Napoleon  !  A  poor  affair  in  every  way.  One 
thing  amused  me,  however  :  not  only  had  Pokorny 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  57 

adorned  the  whole  house  from  ceiling  to  floor  with 
German  banners,  but  even  the  waiters,  who  called  out 
Ice  etc.  in  the  entr'actes,  were  dressed  in  black,  red  and 
yellow,  from  top  to  toe.  All  fudge,  no  doubt  ;  but  it 
will  shew  you  how  things  are  looking  here. 

For  my  friend  Miiller  I  had  to  trudge  to  the  Burg, 
where  he  was  on  guard.  Yesterday  I  found  Bauernfeld 
at  last  ;  he's  a  downright  hypochondriac  now — for  two 
months  he  was  completely  insane,  so  I've  heard — he  sees 
nothing  but  black,  and  deems  the  time  entirely  unfit  for 
experimenting  with  the  Theatre.  Possibly  he's  right, 
but  I  shall  not  give  my  efforts  up  for  all  that  ;  I  have  a 
rendezvous  at  noon  to-day  with  a  Dr  Frenkel,  described 
and  recommended  to  me  by  Bauernfeld  himself  as  very 
active,  intelligent  and  influential.  — The  theatres  are  in 
very  low  water  now,  a  result  of  bad  management.  The 
Burg  theatre  has  closed, — at  the  opera-house  the  singers 
etc.  are  going  shares,  without  a  director  ;  I  haven't  been 
there  yet  :  perhaps  to-night.— 

Certainly  politics  take  the  wind  out  of  everything 
here  more  than  in  a  smaller  town  like  ours.  In  a  city 
where  questions  involving  the  continuance  of  large  states 
have  to  be  decided  every  day,  other  interests  naturally 
dwindle.  In  such  a  throng  I'm  very  lonely  still,— 
almost  as  in  Paris  ;  only  to-day  do  I  hope  to  make  proper 
acquaintances.  Yesterday  it  took  me  4  hours  to  find 
out  Bauernfeld  alone  ;  nowhere  could  I  ascertain  where 
he  dwelt,  or  even  if  he  lived  here  at  all.  Moreover,  it 
rained  the  whole  day  yesterday,- — I  moved  out  of  my 
hotel,  and  so  forth. — How  it  runs  away  with  money  !  I 
think  I  shall  be  able  to  live  quite  cheap,  however,  in 
private  lodgings.— 

This  afternoon  I'll  write  you  more. 


58  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

12.  July. 

I  meant  to  resume  my  letter  yesterday  afternoon,  but 
didn't  get  back  to  the  house,  as  I  now  belong  to  Vienna 
hospitality.  I  have  found  my  man— i.e.  Professor  Fischhof, 
a  man  who  possesses  my  operas.  I  met  him  yesterday 
noon,  and  spent  the  whole  day  and  part  of  the  night 
with  him.  There  s  a  man  who  appears  to  have  under- 
stood me  at  once,  lock,  stock  and  barrel.  Even  before 
I  unfolded  my  plan  to  him,*  he  expressed  his  great 
delight  at  Vienna's  having  pleased  me,  since  it  gave  him 
hope  I  would  soon  remain  here  to  occupy  an  important 
sphere  of  action.  Then  I  laid  my  plan  before  him  :  he 
fell  in  with  it  at  once,  and  sketched  out  the  following 
plan  of  campaign.  The  new  Minister  of  Education, 
Erner,  a  man  of  much  talent  to  whom  everyone  looks  for 
great  things,  is  a  friend  of  Fischhof's.  He  will  introduce 
me  to  him  :  thereon  we  want  the  Minister  to  bring  the 
whole  proposal  forward  with  his  draft  budget  for  Public 
Instruction,  and  to  name  a  commission  to  decide  how 
much  of  it  can  be  carried  into  immediate  execution  as  a 
commencement.  One  thing  has  to  be  remembered,  how- 
ever :  the  present  great  preoccupation  of  all  statesmen 
with  the  weightiest  political  affairs.  Nevertheless  I  shall 
go  on  urging  that  at  least  the  principle  be  recognised 
officially,  whilst  whatever  can  be  carried  out  at  once, 
should  be  so  ;  and  this  chiefly  concerns  the  Karnthner- 
Thor  theatre  (Opera),  which  is  without  a  director  and  in 
a  state  of  dissolution.  Fischhof  himself  conceived  the 
greatest  hope  of  the  thing  :  there  was  money  enough  in 
Vienna,  said  he,  and  if  the  plan  could  be  published 


*  Cf"  Plan  for  organisation  of  a  German  National  Theatre,"  A',  ll'agners 
Prose 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  59 

through  print  and  proclamation,  accompanied  by  a  public 
appeal,  he  was  sure  500,000  florins  would  be  volunteered 
at  once  to  set  the  matter  going. — Well,  that  was  our  first 
discussion  of  the  thing  ;  further  results  will  follow  : 
Fischhof  will  arrange  a  meeting  of  the  most  important 
litterateurs  etc.  at  his  house. 

So  I  can  tell  you  of  a  start — and  even  if  the  whole 
plan  can't  be  carried  out  forthwith,  still  I  am  certain,  after 
this  uncommonly  sympathetic  reception,  that  my  presence 
here  will  bear  good  fruit. 

Last  night  I  was  at  the  Karnthnerthor  theatre  with 
the  attache  to  the  Russian  embassy  and  Fischhof,  his 
Liberal  instructor  ;  a  wretched  ballet  was  played,  ' '  the 
Gamin  of  Paris. ' ' 

Now,  my  dear  good  Wife,  let  this  suffice  for  the 
nonce.  I  have  saluted  you  morning  and  night  ;  you 
have  returned  it,  no  doubt  ?  for  we  two  old  grown-into- 
one  are  always  together  !  You  walk  by  my  side  all  the 
day  here  ;  I  point  you  out  this  and  that,  and  converse  with 
you.  Farewell,  be  of  good  health  and  courage,  and  hold 
me  dear  !  Many  hearty  long  kisses  from 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

27. 

VIENNA,  i^.July  1848. 

MY  ENTIRELY  GOOD  DEAR  MlNNA, 

I  made  a  fool  of  myself,  now  I  remember,  in 
not  giving  you  my  address  last  time,  since  I  probably 
have  spoilt  my  chance  of  getting  news  from  you,  for 
which  I'm  longing  so.  To  make  it  still  possible,  I'll 
write  my  address  down  at  once  :  Goldschmidgasse  no.  '594, 
\st  floor.—  As  I  think  of  staying  on  here  till  the  end  of 


60  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

next  week,  I  now  shall  hope  to  get  a  letter  from  you  yet 
in  any  case  ;  at  least,  I  beg  for  one  with  all  my  heart  — 

My  Vienna  ship  is  answering  the  helm  quite  splendidly. 
At  4  next  Monday  afternoon  there  is  a  big  meeting  at 
Fischhof's,  when  my  plan's  to  be  broached  for  acceptance  in 
general.  Directly  my  name  had  appeared  on  the  Visitors' 
list  I  had  several  callers,  among  others  Dr  Bacher  (very 
rich  and  enthusiastic),  who  entered  into  my  plan  with 
delight.  Very  influential  also  is  the  acquisition  of 
Staatsrath  Vesque  von  Piittlingen  (composer  of  the  opera 
"Johanna  d'Arc,"  under  the  name  of  "  Hoven  ")  ;  Fisch- 
hof  and  I  dined  with  him  yesterday  at  his  villa  in  the 
country  :  my  plan  enraptured  him,  and  he  begged 
immediate  copies  for  the  Ministers,  to  make  them  pro- 
visionally acquainted  with  the  thing.  For  the  Karnth- 
nerthor  Opera,  however,  all  considered  that  one 
condition  must  be  made  :  namely,  that  I  should  cut 
myself  adrift  from  Dresden,  to  take  over  the  direction  of 
this  theatre.  I  replied  :  At  Dresden  I  certainly  have  a 
Royal  appointment  for  life,  with  a  good  salary  etc.  ; 
nevertheless,  if  my  wishes  could  be  thoroughly  fulfilled 
for  Vienna,  I  have  hopes  of  soon  being  released  by  my 
King.  That  satisfied  them  all,  and  on  Monday,  as  said, 
a  general  meeting  is  to  be  held  ;  then  the  Minister  is  to 
be  approached  with  all  their  signatures,  asking  for  a 
commission  to  be  named  at  once  to  draw  up  a  suitable 
scheme  for  the  introduction  of  my  Theatre-organisation  ; 
all  that  they  regret,  is  that  I  must  leave  again  now, 
and  cannot  take  immediate  part  in  this  commission. 

Dear  Wife,  this  Vienna  is  a  glorious  city  ;  everything 
here  gives  me  such  an  agreeable  feeling  of  warmth  ;  the 
conditions  are  home-like  and  yet  so  colossal.  What 
surroundings  !  I  had  forgotten  them  all,  and  am  truly 


DRESDEN    PERIOD  61 

bewitched  with  them  now  for  the  first  time.  One  may  enjoy 
it  all  fairly  cheap,  too  ;  for  a  2o-kreuzer  [about  5d.]  elegant 
coaches  take  you  to  the  most  beautiful  spots  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood. I  have  been  most,  in  fact  nearly  all,  of  the 
time  with  Fischhof,  as  he  conducts  me  everywhere.  A 
capital  fellow,  that,  of  uncommonly  wide  acquaintance, 
standing  in  the  highest  esteem  with  everybody,  high  and 
low.  Two  of  his  pupils  are  the  Russian  attache,  with  whom 
we  have  gone  out  several  times  already,  and  the  son  of  the 
Turkish  ambassador,  with  whom  we  are  to  drive  to  Baden 
to-day.  Only  think,  I  am  keeping  company  with  Turks 
and  Egyptians  here,  for  there  is  also  a  grandson  of 
Mehemed  Ali,  the  viceroy  of  Egypt  For  the  rest, 
Vienna  is  now  distinguished  from  all  other  cities  chiefly 
by  its  presenting  no  party-friction  at  all  ;  there  is  only 
one  party  here,  the  radical:  at  Inspruck  sits  the  court- 
party,  about  which  no  one  bothers  any  more.  A  fine  fete 
took  place  yesterday  :  disquieting  rumours  had  been 
spread,  that  the  military  intended  to  strike  a  blow  at 
Vienna,  and  so  forth.  Well,  a  deputation  from  the  army 
came  to  the  Committee  of  Public  Safety  the  day  before 
yesterday,  and  declared  its  wish  to  quash  any  such  rumours 
by  organising  a  meeting  of  the  National  Guard  and  Army 
next  morning  in  the  Brigittenau,  there  to  vow  brotherhood. 
It  came  to  pass,  too,  and  amid  cheering  and  music  the 
National  Guard,  students,  army  with  officers,  12  Generals 
etc.,  workmen  and  the  like,  all  inarched  through  the  city 
mingled  anyhow  and  arm  in  arm.  It  really  was  exalting. 
—It  will  be  many  a  long  day  before  Vienna  falls  to  the 
ground  ;  what  wealth  abounds  here  !  Nobody  asks  after 
the  Emperor  now,  no  one  wants  him  ;  one  is  quite 
sufficient  for  oneself.— 

Enough    for   to-day,  dear   good   Wife  :     I    have    to   be 


62  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

at    Fischhof's   at  9,    to   go  to   Baden   with    the    company 
aforesaid.  — 

You  shall  soon  have  another  report  from  me  ;  God 
grant  you're  as  well  as  myself;  only  be  of  good  cheer  and 
good  spirits  !  After  all  our  manifold  experiences,  I  fancy 
things  will  go  quite  comfortably  with  us  at  last. — Yes, 
yes — one  has  really  learnt  something  for  the  future  from 
it  all. 

Now,  many,  many  hearty  kisses  from 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

28. 

ZURICH,  ii.  Au^ist  1849. 

MY  GOOD  MINNA, 

It  is  very  disagreeable  to  me  to  have  to  write  to 
you  again,  firstly  because  I  hope  to  have  you  soon  with 
me  again  yourself,  and  secondly  because  I  fully  understand 
that  no  amount  of  my  writing  will  suffice  to  revive  in  you 
a  single  spark  of  moral  courage  (Lebensmutli).  That  is 
natural  enough,  and  as  I  certainly  am  unable  to  write  you 
just  yet  the  only  thing  to  please  and  reassure  you,  namely 
that  I  have  secured  another  appointment  for  life — nothing 
remains  but  to  prove  to  you  by  experience  that  your  lot 
won't  really  be  so  cheerless  at  my  side  as  it  is  bound  to 
appear  to  you  now  from  a  distance.  The  most  cheerless 
thing  at  any  ra.te  is  separation,  at  least  for  me,  since  it  sets 
me  in  hourly  uncertainty  about  you  and  your  health  :  not 
to  know  how  things  are  standing,  is  the  worst  of  all,  and 
you  must  therefore  forgive  me  if  I  only  think  of  you  when 
I  think  of  Dresden,  not  of  our  animal  pets,  dear  as  they 
are  to  me  also.  For  my  part  I've  experienced  again  in 
person,  and  conclusively,  that  the  human  being  is  the  main 
affair,  outtops  all  else  ;  your  heart,  alas — through  habit — 


ZURICH    PERIOD  63 

often  seems  almost  more  attached  to  furniture,  houses  and 
so  on,  than  to  the  living  man. 

However — even  this  will  surely  all  clear  up  for  both 
of  us  when  we're  only  together  again.  Your  profound 
dejection  is  so  natural  and  explicable,  that  it  leaves  nothing 
to  say,  neither  will  words  dispel  it  ;  here  life  itself  must 
exert  its  healing  power,  and  with  certainty  I  hope — not 
through  argument — but  through  life  itself  to  succeed  in 
reconciling  you  to  it  again.  Your  chief  anxiety,  about 
our  maintenance,  will  also  soon  be  laid  ;  you  have  only  to 
gain  the  conviction  that  things  can't  all  conform  at  once 
and  in  such  hurry  to  our  wish,  that  we  perhaps  may  need 
a  little  spell  of  patience  ere  the  new  and  future  takes  firm 
shape.  And  even  as  regards  your  own  poor  parents,  for 
whom  I  certainly  am  sorriest,  the  hardship  is  only  just  for 
now  and  the  immediate  future — something  better  will 
soon  turn  up  for  them  as  well,  be  sure.— 

How  active  is  Liszt  in  my  behalf,  his  last  letter  to  me 
has  proved,  in  which  he  also  intimated  that  he  had  sent 
you  100  thaler  :  this  money,  he  wrote,  was  from  an 
admirer  of  Tannhauser  for  the  enjoyment  that  work  had 
given  him,  but  who  didn't  wish  to  be  named.  At  the 
same  time  he  invited  me  to  add  to  the  pianoforte  score  of 
Tannhauser  a  dedication  to  the  Hereditary  Grand  Duke  of 
Weimar  ;  which  I  attended  to  at  once,  and  indeed  with  a 
couple  of  verses  that  —  without  compromising  my  free- 
thought  principles  in  any  way — will  make  a  due  effect. 
Liszt  is  certain  to  collect  the  desired  modest  yearly  stipend 
for  my  works  before  long — at  bottom  it  needs  no  juggling 
— only  he  cannot  batter  in  the  door  like  that  at  present 
(after  all  that  has  happened),  but  must  proceed  a  little 
warily  :  which  means  a  delaying  of  the  thing,  but  not  its 
giving  up.  That  you  will  recognise,  dear  Wife,  yourself? 


64  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

So  pluck  up  heart  :  our  time  will  come  !  And  even 
should  it  drag  a  little,  I'm  arranging  for  immediate  needs 
already.  The  300  gulden,  which  I  shall  not  have  to  repay 
till  I  make  them  by  Lohengrin  takings,  are  the  only  thing 
I'm  borrowing  ;  I  shall  earn  the  rest.  A  few  friends,  to 
whom  I  had  read  something  of  mine,  have  offered  to  beat 
up  for  me  this  autumn  a  select  small  audience  of  private 
subscribers  at  a  high  rate,  before  whom  I'm  to  recite  my 
new  poems  in  a  course  of  three  evenings.  I  shall  then 
give  a  concert  of  excerpts  from  my  operas  also, — the  receipts 
from  both  enterprises,  which  will  cause  me  no  trouble 
whatever,  will  last  us  all  the  winter. — So  it's  merely  a 
question  of  gaining  time,  and  everything  will  straighten  ; 
but  we  must  pass  that  time  together,  or  else  it  certainly 
will  not  be  bearable — for  me  at  least.  I  have  already 
sent  my  big  article  on  Art  to  Paris  ;  after  it  has  appeared 
in  the  National,  Belloni  will  get  it  published  separately  in 
brochure  form,  and  transmit  me  the  fee.  Through  Liszt 
I  have  also  despatched  this  long  essay  to  a  German  book- 
seller, who  is  to  publish  it  as  a  brochure  in  German  ;  if  it 
catches  on,  I  shall  then  write  more — for  pay,  of  course.— 
Have  no  fear  ;  I  shall  be  keeping  myself, — but  you  must 
be  with  me. 

If  you  only  would  write  me  you're  coining  at  last  ;  I 
deplore  each  fine  day  you  are  missing  here  ! — By  all 
means  bring  N.  with  you  ;  I  have  thought  that  over, 
too.  But  what  is  all  this  about  a  situation  for  her  ? 
She  is  simply  to  come  to  be  with  you,  to  help  you  in 
every  respect,  and — as  you  also  very  justly  remark — that 
you  ma}'  have  someone  about  you,  should  I  have  to  go 
travelling.  In  short,  she's  indispensable  to  you,  and 
costs  next  to  nothing  ;  would  your  worry  about  her  be 
smaller,  if  you  left  her  behind  ?  If  she  wants  to  earn 


ZURICH    PERIOD  65 

something  besides,  she  can  do  that  better  here  than  at 
Dresden,  for  work  is  better  paid  here.  So  bring  her  in 
any  case. 

As  regards  our  residence  in  Switzerland,  don't  enter- 
tain any  fear  !  The  fugitives  are  nothing  to  me,  and 
moreover  are  so  dispersed  throughout  the  whole  of  Switzer- 
land, that  one  scarcely  remarks  them  at  all  in  single 
places  ;  any  eventual  reclamations,  also,  will  only  apply 
to  those  who  took  part  in  the  last  insurrection  in  Baden 
and  the  Palatinate  ; — /don't  rank  here  at  all  as  a  fugitive, 
for  I  have  my  full  Swiss  pass  and  permit  for  a  year's 
residence,  i.e.  as  good  as  for  ever.  To  people  outside,  no 
doubt,  such  a  state  of  things  always  looks  worse  than  it 
is  in  reality  ;  war  isn't  so  much  as  to  be  dreamt  of,  and 
I'm  threatened  with  no  other  kind  of  disagreeables,  as  I 
have  sponsors  and  sureties  enough  here  to  enable  me  to 
be  fully  naturalised  in  the  Canton  [at  any  moment].  I 
mix  with  none  but  Switzers,  as  you'll  soon  be  able  to 
convince  yourself. 

What  do  I  want  you  to  bring  me  ?  You  will  surely 
be  best  judge  of  that  yourself:  include  in  your  packing 
those  scribblings  of  mine  which  you  found  in  my  desk, 
also  the  bound  music  and  scores  which  stood  in  the  pillar- 
cabinet  in  my  study  ;  of  the  other  things  you'll  be  able 
to  form  your  own  opinion  what  would  be  of  need  to  me. 
The  scores  on  the  floor,  also  whatever  lay  loose  in  the 
cupboards,  just  give  to  somebody  at  Dresden  to  take  care 
of.  I  have  no  further  orders.  I  wrote  to  Uhlig  a  day 
or  two  back,  asking  him  to  go  on  with  the  pianoforte 
score  of  Lohengrin  he  had  already  begun  from  the  theatre's 
full  score  ;  I  also  enclosed  a  few  lines  to  Fischer,  who 
will  doubtless  have  conveyed  you  my  request  by  now. 

Liszt  wrote  me,  Heinrich  Brockhaus  had  lately  called 
vol..  i  5 


66  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

on  him  and  offered,  from  himself  and  the  family,  to  do 
everything  possible  for  me.  On  that  I  don't  particularly 
reckon — in  fact,  I'm  disregarding  it  completely.— 

The  main  thing  is,  for  you  to  come  here  quickly  : 
if  N.  is  with  you,  Peps  will  give  no  trouble  even  on  the 
railway  ;  only  you  must  conceal  him  skilfully  when  you 
get  in.  Do  try,  however,  to  let  me  know  as  precisely  as 
possible  when  you  will  be  arriving  at  Rorschach,  the  first 
Swiss  station  on  the  Lake  of  Constance,  as  I  should  very 
much  like  to  come  and  meet  you  there.  I  shall  not  take 
weekly  lodgings  before  I  know  exactly  from  when. 

Once  again,  I'm  quite  crestfallen  at  having  to  keep 
on  writing  you  ;  my  impatience  to  have  you  here  at  last 
is  growing  daily,  and  my  vexation  at  the  long  delay 
prevents  my  finding  zest  for  anything.  When  I  drew 
the  comfort  from  your  letters  that  you  were  coining  soon, 
my  work  at  once  put  on  a  spurt, — now  everything  hobbles 
again. — And  then  you're  surrounded  by  the  cholera  too  ; 
what  everlasting  dread  and  pain  that  causes  me  !  Up, 
up  !  Minna,  dear  wife  !  Make  haste  and  come,  and  my 
whole  heart  could  wish  that  this  letter  itself  no  longer 
might  catch  you  !  How  gladly  would  I  have  written  it 
in  vain  !  Pluck  up  courage  and  be  with  me  soon  !  All 
else  I'll  keep  for  word  of  mouth.  Farewell,  a  pleasant 
journey,  and  hope  ! 

Soon  to  embrace  you  most  ardently, 

Thy  RICHARD. 

I  can  find  no  words  to  tell  you  how  beside  myself  I 
am  at  your  deliberately  choosing  to  start  on  your  journey 
so  late  !  In  this  way  it  may  last  a  fortnight  yet  !  !  Fie, 
that  is  horrid  of  you  !  At  first  I  believed  the  fault  was 
simply  Liszt's  delay  in  sending  money,  that  you  would 


ZURICH    PERIOD  67 

be  waiting  for  it,  all  impatience  to  carry  out  your  decision 
at  last.  But  no,  I  was  mistaken, — arrival  of  the  money 
has  altered  absolutely  nothing  in  your  purpose  !  ! 

Only  upon  reading  your  letter  through  once  more, 
have  I  distinctly  made  out  that  you  do  not  think  of 
leaving  Chemnitz  until  Saturday,  i.e.  to-day,  the  day  I'm 
writing,  nth  of  August  ;  and  this  you  wrote  me  on  the 
5th  !  !  notwithstanding  that  you  had  received  news  of  the 
money's  arrival  !  !  !  I  confess,  dear  Wife,  this  quite  in- 
tentional delay  has  turned  me  rather  bitter.  So,  only 
to-day  are  you  starting  from  Chemnitz — where  there  are 
no  preparations  at  all  to  make  for  your  departure — to  go 
to  Dresden,  where  it  will  last  another  while  before  you've 
seen  to  everything,  which  you  cannot  at  Chemnitz  !  And 
I  am  counting  the  days  and  hours  !  So  you  were  simply 
staying  on  because  you  had  made  up  your  mind  to. 
Naturally,  then,  you're  in  no  hurry  to  come  to  me  ! 
Why  should  you  be  ?  Every  Chemnitzer,  etc. ,  of  course 
is  better  than  your — husband  !  Ah  me,  ah  me  !  God 
alone  knows  when  you'll  come  now  ! 

29. 

PARIS,  3.  February  1850. 

MY  GOOD  MINNA, 

I'm  writing  you  a  few  lines  to-day  just  to  prevent 
your  getting  anxious  ;  I  cannot  w^rite  a  proper  letter  yet, 
I've  not  yet  settled  down.  So,  merely  the  following  in 
brief,  to  ease  your  mind. 

As  you  will  already  have  heard  from  me  from  Miihl- 
hausen,  I  didn't  meet  the  least  obstruction  at  the  frontier; 
my  pass  was  all  in  order.  The  remainder  of  the  journey 
certainly  fatigued  me  greatly  ;  I  don't  think,  however, 
it  did  me  any  further  harm.  Arrived  in  Paris,  I  rushed 


68  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

off  to  Belloni  :  by  divine  dispensation,  he  hadn't  returned 
from  Weimar  yet  :  and  Liszt  had  sent  me  a  bill  of  ex- 
change on  Paris  "  payable  in  14  days  "  !  On  the  strength 
of  my  letter,  however,  Belloni' s  mother  had  secured  me 
a  lodging,  and  for  no  less  than  60  fr.  [per  month]  in  the 
Faiibourg  Montmartre.  The  room  was  dark  and  un- 
inviting, blocked  up  with  cupboards  and  lumber  ;  never- 
theless I  submitted,  though  I  remarked  at  once  that  there 
was  a  deal  of  street-noise  even  here.  At  last — done  up 
and  tired  as  a  dog,  I  go  to  bed  at  10,  when  a  female 
singer  immediately  above  me  commences  practising  an 
aria  from  the  Puritani  !  That  lasted  until  half  past  n  : 
imagine  my  sufferings  ! — Next  day — dog-tired  as  I  was 
—I  started  lodging-hunting  ;  I  chased  around  the  so- 
called  quiet  quarters  till  I  nearly  dropped — and  found 
nothing  !  The  whole  of  my  day  thereby  went  to  the 
Devil,  and  at  night  again  I  couldn't  really  sleep.  Finally 
to-day — in  fact  I've  only  just  returned  from  hunting— 
I  have  hired  another  apartment  on  the  4th  floor  of  a 
Cite  {Cite  cf  Antin] — 65  fr.  \  \  It's  the  quietest  of  any 
I  have  seen,  however.  Tomorrow  midday  I  move  oiit, 
so  think  of  coming  to  a  rest  at  last,  and  starting  my 
business  and  labours — especially  the  translation  of  my 
scenario  \lVieland\.  Otherwise  the  delay  in  Belloni's 
return  is  no  hindrance  to  me  whatever  ;  I  have  spoken 
with  Franck,  and  he  told  me  Belloni  had  set  my  affairs 
well  in  order. 

Now  I  must  lie  down  a  bit  ;  you  won't  be  cross  with 
me  for  that,  dear  wife  ?  Ease,  ease  !  To  ease  your 
mind  as  well,  however,  I  assure  you  that,  despite  my 
tiredness,  I'm  feeling  somewhat  better  ;  once  I  have  had 
a  thorough  sleep,  I  expect  to  be  in  good  trim  again.  If 
I  had  anything  to  fear,  it  must  already  have  seized  me 


ZURICH    PERIOD  69 

by  now  ;  but  the  mere  fact  of  my  not  feeling  worse  to 
me  is  a  sign  I  shall  soon  be  quite  well.  So — farewell 
for  to-day,  dear  Minel  ;  you  shall  soon  have  a  longer  and 
better-written  letter.  I  have  seen  no  one  but  Franck  yet, 
I  had  too  much  to  do  with  the  lodgings. 

Once  more,  farewell  !  Keep  in  good  health,  and  be 
good  to  me  !  Heartiest  greetings  to  our  steadfast  friends, 
especially  to  Boom  and  Sulzer. 

Ah,  how  I'm  longing  to  leave  already  ! 

Farewell, 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

30. 

PARIS,  9.  February  1850. 

MY  DEAR  MINNA, 

Without  exactly  much  material,  I  am  writing 
you  to-day  again,  instead  of  waiting  for  your  news  first, 
just  to  tell  you  how  I'm  getting  on.  My  last  letter  to  you 
was  written  under  influence  of  the  greatest  exhaustion,— 
no  doubt  you'll  have  remarked  that  in  its  slipshod  style,— 
but  since  last  Monday  I'm  in  another  lodging,  about 
which  I  wrote  you  before,  and  gradually  am  getting 
better  ;  my  room  looks  on  to  a  Cite  (large  courtyard),  and 
at  least  has  the  advantage  of  there  being  no  piano  and  no 
lady  singer  near.  It  passes  my  comprehension,  how  dear 
everything  has  become  here  ;  or  was  it  so  before  as  well, 
only  we  didn't  know  it?  I  am  paying  65  fr. ,  and  need 
say  no  more  than  that  I  envy  Brix,  in  recollection,  the 
room  he  had  from  us  for  40,  which  was  far  more  comfort- 
able, and  better  in  every  way,  than  my  present  one  at 
25  Jr.  dearer. — In  order  to  recover,  I  spend  nearly  all  the 
day  indoors  ;  you  may  imagine  what  that  costs  for  wood, 
with  this  firing  tariff !  Moreover,  I  have  already  been 


;o  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

obliged  to  rig  myself  out  a  little:  i.,  hat;  2.,  umbrella 
(indispensable  !)  ;  3.,  black  tie  ;  4.,  gloves  ;  5.,  2  pairs  of 
under-garments  ;  6.,  a  purse, — finally  7.,  a  ready-made 
paletot.  In  addition,  I  have  been  to  Loizeau,  whom  I 
unfortunately  still  owe  something  (as  you  know),  and  he 
complained  of  having  had  great  losses  and  being  much 
thrown  back.  I  got  measured  for  a  coat,  a  pair  of  out- 
door trousers,  a  black  velvet  and  an  ordinary  cloth  waist- 
coat. I  must  try  and  pay  Loizeau  off  during  my  present 
stay  in  Paris  ;  but  what  I  have  just  ordered  was  absolutely 
necessary  :  I  couldn't  go  about  in  my  old  things  any 
longer — particularly  here. 

So  far,  dear  Minna,  I  have  been  able  to  attend  to 
almost  nothing  but  my  health  ;  it  needed  the  more  con- 
sideration, as  I  had  severely  overtaxed  my  strength  afresh 
through  my  journey  and  first  few  days  in  Paris.  I  am 
growing  more  and  more  convinced  that  my  complaint  is 
nothing  but  a  great  overstrain,  and  subsequent  running 
down,  of  my  nerves  :  once  I  have  strongly  excited  myself, 
the  seemingly  rheumatic  pains  set  in  forthwith, — on  the 
contrary,  when  I  have  thoroughly  rested,  they  also  cease 
at  once.  Unfortunately  it  wasn't  till  the  night  before  last 
that  I  had  a  proper  sleep  again,  for  even  after  shifting  to 
this  lodging  I  had  disturbing  adventures  to  undergo  at 
first.  After  retiring  to  bed  the  first  night,  past  n  o'clock 
I  suddenly  hear  the  papers  being  read  close  beside  me 
as  distinctly  as  if  in  my  room  :  it  continues  till  i,  with 
goodbye  to  my  longed  sleep  for  the  night.  After  my 
complaining  about  it  next  morning,  the  next  night  my 
neighbour — who  reads  to  himself  all  alone — began  mumb- 
ling quite  low,  as  if  trying  to  check  himself  ;  but  it  went 
on  more  and  more  crescendo,  till  at  last  it  reached  the 
volume  of  the  night  before.  The  same  thing  the  third 


ZURICH    PERIOD  71 

night,  when  my  patience  gave  way  ;  in  a  fury  I  shouted 
at  my  neighbour,  Had  he  gone  out  of  his  mind,  with  his 
ridiculous  habit  ?  I  should  leave  on  his  account  next 
morning  !  He  held  his  tongue — and  the  fourth  night  I 
heard  nothing  more  of  him,  and  consequently  for  the  first 
time  got  a  quiet  sleep.  You  see,  good  Wife,  how  things 
are  faring  with  your  poor  sick  husband  in  Paris  ! 

—I  have  been  with  Kietz  and  Anders  several  times, 
and  have  already  made  my  promenade  across  the  Seine 
three  times  to  dine  (i.e.  evenings)  at  TrufFaut's — where 
Anders  has  fed  for  20  years.  In  fact  I  shall  do  it  as  often 
as  possible,  for  cheapness'  sake,  as  in  my  quarter  I  can't 
get  dinner  under  2  fr.,  whilst  a  demi-tasse  after  costs 
another  10  sous  each  time.  I  have  my  morning  coffee 
in  the  house  :  I  always  keep  back  half  the  fl&te  for  second 
breakfast,  and  have  laid  in  some  cheese  and  sausage,  also 
a  few  bottles  of  wine,  not  to  be  compelled  to  go  out 
for  it. 

Herr  Vieweg  also  has  given  me  a  joy  :  he  told  me 
quite  naively  I  still  owed  him  some  30  fr.,  and  kept 
snorting  around  it  so  long,  that  I  gave  him  the  cash  in 
disgust.  Franck  is  behaving  very  well  and  kindly  to  me ; 
I  like  looking  him  up  every  day  at  his  bookshop,  and  as  I 
always  light  on  Vieweg  there,  it  was  very  awkward  for  me 
not  to  be  able  to  polish  him  off  handsomely. 

Ah,  to  see  these  people  and  their  traffic  here,  is 
something  dreadful  !  Heartlessness  and  the  most  un- 
blushing egoism,  without  the  smallest  disguise,  encounter 
one  at  every  step. — Yesterday  I  was  at  the  Garcia' s — I  do 
not  think  much  of  her,  either.— 

My  overtiires  have  been  in  practice  for  some  time,  and 
are  already  announced  ;  the  concerts  [Union  musicale]  are 
said  to  be  having  a  great  success,  and  not  a  ticket  is  left. 


72  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

I'm  expecting  Belloni  within  the  next  few  days  ;  I  hope 
to  be  quite  well  by  then  ;  also  I  think  of  resuming  work 
on  Monday. 

I  sent  your  letter  off  from  here  the  4th  all  right. 

I  have  nothing  more  to  tell  you  of  myself  to-day,  but 
am  firmly  reckoning  on  speedy  news  from  you,  good 
Minna,  and  hope  with  all  my  heart  that  you've  been 
feeling  better  than  myself.  I  don't  want  to  appear  senti- 
mental, yet  may  tell  you  this  :  When  I  pack  my  traps 
again,  to  return  to  yourself,  to  my  friends  and  our  little 
pets  in  cosy  Zurich — were  I  ever  so  ill,  I  shall  recover  my 
health  like  a  shot.  I  hope  the  Holy  Alliance  won't  oust 
us  from  Zurich  ;  don't  let  people  make  you  afraid,  and 
simply  ask  Sulzer.  Hearty  remembrances  to  our  dear 
friends  ;  Sulzer  and  Baumgartner's  farewell  at  the  station 
did  me  a  power  of  good.  They  shall  have  letters  from 
me  soon.— 

Now  write  me,  my  Minel,  poor  sorely-tried  wife  with 
your  excellent  housekeeping  !  L,et  me  know  how  you  are 
and  you  feel.  Never  mind  about  Nette,  and  give  her 
my  love.  How's  Peps  ?  What's  Papo  learning  ?  I  must 
hear  of  all  that,  for  those  are  things  of  importance — as 
you  quite  understand.  I  shall  write  again  soon.  Fare- 
well, my  good  old  woman ;  think  kindly  of  me,  and  keep 
a  loving  corner  for 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

(Address  : 

Monsieur  Wagner 

59,  rue  de  Provence 
a 

Paris} 


ZURICH    PERIOD  73 

31. 

PARIS,  13.  February  1850. 
(59,  rue  de  Provence} 

DEAR  MINNA, 

I  have  just  received  your  letter,    and  hasten  to 
reply   to  it  at  once. 

I'm  heartily  sorry  to  have  left  such  an  exertion  to 
your  solitary  neck,  and  you  may  judge  how  greatly  I 
deplore  it,  when  I  assure  you  I  now  perceive  that  I  have 
come  to  Paris  a  whole  month  too  soon,  can  be  of  no  use 
whatever  to  myself  for  the  present,  and  simply  am  leading 
a  far  more  expensive  life  here  than  I  might  have  done 
with  you  at  home.  How  right  I  was,  when  I  wished  to 
await  a  letter  from  Belloni  first  ;  it  was  your  own  im- 
patience that  drove  me  forth  :  remember  that  last  Saturday. 
But  there,  don't  let  us  tax  each  other  with  it  now  : 
'twould  lead  to  naught, — moreover,  much  of  the  blame  is 
certainly  due  to  Liszt,  whose  letter  virtually  hurried  me 
off  to  Paris,  though  he  must  have  known  that  Belloni 
[would  be]  still  with  him  at  Weimar,  not  a  syllable  of 
which  did  he  mention  to  me. — Then  I  have  had  to  write 
to  Meser  at  Dresden  for  the  parts  of  the  Tannhauser  over- 
ture, and  before  they  arrive — as  I  learn — nothing  whatever 
can  be  begun. — Now  for  the  matter  oppressing  you  : 

My  hopes  of  a  really  comfortable  summer  at  Zurich 
have  by  all  means  ranked  among  my  fondest  hitherto. 
You  know  what  radical  objections  we  had  to  remaining 
in  our  present  abode  :  nevertheless,  not  to  cause  you  any 
extra  disturbance  now,  and  to  spare  you  as  you  feel  you 
need,  I  will  come  round  to  your  wish  to  retain  the  same 
lodgings  for  another  half  year.  I  advise  you,  however,  to 
have  a  look  at  the  empty  suite  in  the  front  Kscherhauser 
first  :  these  suites  seem  to  be  self-included,  and  in  any 
case  we  should  have  the  advantage  of  not  living  on  the 


74  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

ground-floor,  which,  as  we  have  learnt  from  experience,  is 
a  great  nuisance.  Don't  be  too  timid  about  the  price, 
dear  wife,  though  you  are  entirely  right  not  to  think  of 
consenting  to  any  exorbitance.  The  main  consideration 
for  us,  and  particularly  for  a  stay-at-home  man  full  of 
work,  like  myself,  at  any  rate  consists  in  one's  having  to 
live  day  after  day  in  one's  dwelling,  which  one  therefore 
finds  a  daily  nuisance  if  it  isn't  to  one's  liking.  I  have 
recently  been  much  gladdened  and  reassured  by  a  letter 
from  Bordeaux  :  our  friend  (for  she  is  yours  no  less)  frankly 
counsels  me  to  stay  perfectly  true  to  myself  in  my  art  and 
all  else,  to  undertake  nothing  that  sets  me  at  variance 
with  myself,  and  to  act  in  all  respects  solely  according  to 
my  inner  promptings,  as  she  and  her  friends  consider  it 
their  bounden  duty  to  relieve  me  of  all  anxiety  about  my 
outward  circumstances.  I  fancy  I  shall  soon  be  able  to 
tell  you  something  more  precise  on  this  head.  At  the 
same  time  I  shall  not  remain  completely  without  earnings 
of  my  own  :  so — don't  alarm  yourself  too  much  about  the 
rent  ;  an  agreeable  dwelling  is  the  vital  point  for  our 
residence  at  Zurich — for  my  brain-work  also  in  particular. 

However,  if  you  do  not  share  my  hopes,  and  at  the 
same  time  abandon  all  hope  of  still  finding  a  really 
pleasant  and  convenient  dwelling, — why — rest  assured,  I 
gladly  yield  to  our  remaining  in  our  old  abode,  especially 
if  I  know  that  at  once  anxiety  and  trouble  are  thereby 
taken  from  yourself.  To  see  you  as  free  from  care  as 
possible,  and  above  all  in  good  spirits  and  health, — this, 
dear  Minna,  is  what  carries  chief  weight  in  the  end 
with  me.— 

Karl  Ritter  will  probably  come  to  us  this  summer  ;  it 
would  have  been  well  if  we  had  had  a  room  for  him. 

I   can    tell    you   nothing    more   from   here    at   present, 


ZURICH    PERIOD  75 

excepting  that  only  to-day  have  I  been  able  to  begin  my 
work  again.  I've  a  capital  cold  in  the  head  now,  which 
I  hope  will  carry  off  the  slackness  of  my  nerves.  The 
turn  my  ancient  winter-trouble  has  taken  this  time  has 
really  given  me  food  for  thought  :  let  us  spend  next 
summer  as  quietly  and  strengtheningly  as  we  can.  I 
should  have  liked  to  be  quite  in  the  country. 

I  expect  Belloni  back  within  the  next  few  days,  when 
you  shall  hear  more  from  here.— 

I'm  also  writing  Sulzer  a  few  lines.  Remember  me 
to  N. ,  and  remain  as  fond  as  possible  of 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

Of  Paris  riots — as  you  know — one  hears  in  Paris  least 
of  all. 

32. 

PARIS,  14.  February  1850. 

I  have  just  received  your  second  letter,  dear  Minna, 
which  reached  me  through  Belloni's  again,  this  time 
somewhat  late.  To  get  an  answer  off  by  to-day's  post,  I 
will  be  as  brief  as  the  subject  itself  demands. 

By  all  means  I  prefer  your  taking  the  proposed  new 
abode  at  Herr  Miiller's,  to  your  remaining  in  our  old 
parterre  ;  also  I  agree  with  you  that  to  take  the  second 
would  suit  us  better,  than  the  first  etage  :  as  the  rent  is  so 
moderate,  we  would  rather  be  able  to  spend  a  few  louis 
d'or  on  having  it  quite  comfortably  fitted  and  neatly  done 
up,  especially  on  a  warmable  bedroom.  For  that  matter, 
dear  wife,  you  see  things  are  not  half  so  bad  ;  no  doubt 
indisposition  and  bad  weather  contributed  much  to  your 
despairing  so  soon  in  this  dwelling  affair.  Perhaps  you 


76  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

may  find  it  possible  to  defer  acceptance  a  little  while,  so 
as  to  wait  and  see  what  information  Sulzer  brings  you, 
to  whom  I  also  wrote  yesterday  ;  but  if  you  must  decide 
at  once,  take  the  lodgings  you  speak  of :  I  shall  be 
perfectly  satisfied,  were  it  only  for  the  knowledge  that  it 
sets  my  harassed  wife  at  ease. 

I've  no  further  news  for  you  to-day,  beyond  my 
general  flabbiness  and  dumps.  Belloni,  I  believe,  is  to 
arrive  here  tomorrow.  Anders  and  Kietz,  in  whose  com- 
pany I  often  feed,  send  hearty  greetings  ;  Anders  in 
particular  has  you  firm  in  his  heart,  clinks  his  glass  to 
no  one  else,  and  tells  me  of  a  poem  he  has  made  in  your 
honour  : 

Oj    herzgcliebtc  Minna  ! 

Du,   die  stets  meincm   Sinn   nali  ! 

I  countersign  it,  and  wish  you  the  best  of  luck  ! 
Farewell  and  think  fondly  of 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

rue  de  Provence,  59. 

33. 

PARIS,  2.  March  1850. 
59,  rue  dc  Provence. 

MY  GOOD  MINNA, 

I  received  your  letter  toward  noon  :  at  once  I 
drew  up  the  answer  for  you,  and  as  that  must  catch  the 
post  by  five — for  which  reason  too,  I  cannot  frank  it- 
it  leaves  me  very  little  time  to  enclose  a  few  lines  for 
yourself.  It  is  impossible  for  any  person  to  behave  more 
nobly  and  delicately  than  our  friend  Mine  Laussot  !  I 
should  have  thought,  dear  wife,  it  would  really  have 
uplifted  you  to  see  what  a  deep  impression  your  hus- 


ZURICH    PERIOD  77 

band's  works  are  able  to  produce  on  healthy,  undistorted, 
noble  hearts  ;  to  see  that  he  is  in  a  position  to  arouse 
such  sacrificial  resolutions  of  sincerest  sympathy  !  Can 
you  prevail  on  your  soul  to  think  meanly  of  such  a  result 
of  my  art — -for  that  alone  has  brought  this  forth- — to 
say  nothing  of  rating  it  lower  than  those  so-called 
"brilliant"  successes  which  nowadays  are  reaped  by 
speculation  and  chicanery  from  the  silly,  sluttish,  heart- 
less rabble  of  our  theatre-goers  ?  You  see  what  those 
cowardly  sluggards  whose  favour  I  also  once  seemed  to  have 
captured  now  are,  and  how  pitifully  they  behave  to  me. 
Are  we  to  despise  them  and  simply  think  of  money  ? 
Good  :  here  is  money,  as  much  as  we  need  for  a  tranquil, 
nay,  a  comfortable  life, — and  that  not  juggled  from  the 
pockets  of  the  crowd,  but  most  delicately  proffered  me 
from  a  noble  heart's  delight  in  works  I  fashion  after  my 
true  inner  nature  !  What  would  you  more  ? — For  sure, 
my  poor  good  wife,  I've  understood  you  ;  I  know  not 
only  you,  but  what  is  actually  at  bottom  of  all  your 
variance  with  me  :  in  the  answer  to  Mine  Laussot  I  have 

hopes  I've  quite  correctly  hit  your  inner  sense  ! 

Nothing  is  so  unwelcome  to  me,  as  to  hear  you  are 
unwell  ;  for  unfortunately  I  could  not  act  as  a  good  nurse 
at  present — even  in  thought — as  I'm  poorly  enough 
myself.  It  is  4  weeks  yesterday,  since  I  arrived  in  Paris 
tired  and  ill  :  what  has  happened  in  those  4  weeks  ? 
what  have  I  bought  with  all  this  sacrificing  of  my  health 
and  precious  money  ?  Listen  !  Belloni  liasri * t  yet  re- 
turned !  He  is  not  to  get  here  till  next  week.  Good  ! 
Tt'ithout  him  there  was  nothing  else  for  me  to  take  in 
hand,  so  I  just  stuck  to  the  projected  performance  of  my 
overtures.  Belloni  had  written  me,  the  parts  would  be 
copied  out  here  at  the  expense  of  the  musical  society  : 


78  RICHARD   TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

after  long  fruitless  searching,  I  find  the  conductor  at  last, 
and  he  discloses  to  me  that  the  society  is  still  too  young 
and  poor  to  afford  the  cost  of  copying  :  so  there  had  been 
no  preparations  at  all!  Then  I  wrote  off  to  Liszt,  to 
send  me  at  least  the  printed  parts  of  the  Tannhauser 
overture  [he  had  borrowed]  from  Dresden  at  once.  Only 
yesterday  evening  did  I  at  last  receive  those  parts.  — 

How  I'm  feeling  under  such  vexation,  trouble  and 
annoyance — especially  with  my  wearing  and  worrying 
bodily  state — you  may  picture  if  you  add  my  natural 
loathing  of  the  whole  of  this  cold,  shallow,  heartless  Paris 
music-mongering.  Here  I  literally  seem  as  in  a  long, 
long  night,  in  which  I  cannot  sleep,  dream  half  awake, 
turn  first  on  this  side,  then  on  that,  just  to  be — able  to 
rest  at  last,  i.e.  to  know  no  more  of  anything — and 
least  of  all,  of  Paris  !  O  you  foolish  friends,  who  have 
nothing  in  your  heads  for  me  but  speculation  and  a  big 
to-do,  how  little  you  know  me  and  what  I  need  to  make 
me  happy. — Deliverance  from  this  hell  is  all  I  wish 
for.  My  dear  Wife — we'll  spend  next  summer  on  our- 
selves, on  health  and  Nature  ;  that's  my  sole  hope,  my 
only  comfort  !  Farewell  ;  greet  all  ;  hold  me  dear. 

Thy 

R.  W. 

34. 

PARIS,  13.  March  1850. 

MY    DEAR    MlENEL, 

If  these  lines  obey  my  fondest  wish,  they'll  find 
you  in  good  health  !  Will  you  be  cross  with  me  if  I 
acquaint  you  that  I  have  formed  a  swift  decision,  finally 
accepted  the  most  cordial  and  pressing  invitation  of  my 
friends  in  Bordeaux — as  they  even  sent  my  travelling- 
expenses —  and  am  starting  for  Bordeaux  tomorrow 


ZURICH    PERIOD  79 

morning?  Remember,  I'm  completely  useless  here, 
simply  consuming  myself  with  worry  and  fruitless  en- 
deavours. Belloni  has  not  yet  arrived !  !  !  Even  of 
my  wretched  overture  no  rehearsals  can  be  held  yet  ; 
only  for  the  end  of  this  month  have  I  been  given  a 
prospect  of  rehearsals.  Just  imagine  my  position  here, 
dear  wife  !  If  it  weren't  for  this  Bordeaux  family,  and 
had  they  not  cared  so  well  for  us  meanwhile, — I  believe 
I  should  not  be  alive  !  Now  they  have  urgently  begged 
me  to  break  my  stay  here  and  refresh  myself  by  a  visit 
to  them,  I  confess  I  gladly  gave  my  consent  to  these 
benefactors,  most  of  whom  I  do  not  even  know  by  sight. 
And  if  I  meant  to  visit  them,  this  was  the  very  best  time  : 
if  my  overture  still  comes  to  performance,  it  will  be  next 
Sunday  fortnight  :  I  can  be  back  here  by  then,  and  in  the 
first  week  of  April  be  back  at  last  with  my  dear  wife, 
whom  I  then  can  help  with  the  removal  also,  not  to 
leave  everything  on  her  one  pair  of  shoulders.  That  will 
be  the  thing,  Minnako,  won't  it  ?  and  you're  satisfied 
with  my  decision  ?  I  hope  so  !— 

My  nervous  exhaustion  has  vanished,  only  the  weak- 
ness on  the  chest  and  the  pains  round  the  heart  still 
remain  with  me.  I  hope  for  full  recovery  as  soon  as 
I've  got  clean  away  from  this  useless  desert  of  a  Paris 
life  !  No  matter,  though  :  I  had  to  make  this  fresh 
experience  before  finally  clearing  up  my  mind  about  this 
place  ;  spare  me  the  need  of  dilating,  just  now,  on  the 
impossibility  of  my  having  anything  to  do  with  it. 
Merely  thus  much  :  it  is  precisely  to  prevent  my  under- 
taking anything  against  my  nature  and  inmost  inclination, 
to  save  me  from  all — entirely  useless  and  fruitless— 
annoyance  here,  that  the  L,aussot  has  acted  toward  me 
as  she  has  ;  and — think  of  this — she  and  Frau  Ritter 


8o  RICHARD    TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

are  offering  us  the  yearly  income  all  alone,  nobody  else 
has  a  hand  in  it,  no  middleman,  no  banker  ! — You  should 
but  know  this  lady's  happiness,  after  receipt  of  your 
letter,  at  being  able  to  hope  she  has  quite  reassured  your- 
self as  well,  and  won  you  to  my  future  plan  of  life  ! 
Her  husband  also  speaks  and  writes  German  quite  fluently, 
so  that  we  all — for  her  mother  is  at  Bordeaux  too — shall 
be  able  to  converse  without  impediment.  I  confess  it 
rejoices  me  greatly,  to  think  that  I  shall  be  bringing  into 
the  life  of  this  remarkably  amiable  family  so  rare  a  diver- 
sion— as  far  as  my  powers  permit — as  the  playing  and 
singing  them  something  from  Lohengrin. — 

So,  dear  wife,  write  your  next  letter  to  me  to  Bordeaux, 
at  the  address  you  know.  May  Sulzer  only  have  succeeded 
in  finding  you  a  suitable  dwelling  by  now,  so  that  you 
may  be  free  of  that  care  !  Then  I  hope  to  be  able  in 
any  case  to  assist  you  in  the  moving. 

Farewell,  dear  Minna  ;  best  wishes  all  round  !  Nette 
must  pin  her  hopes  on  nothing  here, — I'm  sorry,  since 
she  seems  intent  on  leaving  :  I  have  done  my  best. 
Greet  Peps  and  Papo,  and  tell  them  it  will  be  a  long  time 
before  I  forsake  them  again  ;  that's  certain,  the  parting  is 
too  insupportable.  Farewell  and  stay  fond  of 

Thy  RICHARD. 

35. 

BORDEAUX,  17.  [19?]  March  1850. 

MY  GOOD  MINNA, 

Here  I  am  in  Bordeaux,  waiting  eagerly  for  a 
letter  from  you,  which  is  at  the  same  time  to  tell  me 
if  you  aren't  a  little  cross  at  this  trip  of  mine  ?  Put 
yourself  in  my  place,  however,  when  I  inform  you  that 
just  after  taking  my  last  letter  to  you  to  the  Paris  post  I 
finally  learnt  that  my  overture  cannot  be  given  at  all  this 


ZURICH    PERIOD  81 

winter,  as  sufficient  rehearsals  to  get  up  this  "difficult" 
work  could  not  be  held  in  time  for  the  last  concert,  end 
of  March.  I  must  confess  I  burst  out  laughing — really,  I 
hadn't  believed  things  so  dowdy  as  that  !  Not  a  trace 
have  I  had  of  Belloni  yet  ;  just  as  little  of  Liszt  !  In 
such  circumstances  any  other  than  I — who  all  along  had 
simply  forced  myself — would  have  lost  all  inclination. 
I  was  truly  joyful  when  I  turned  my  back  on  this  Paris  I 
detest  so,  and  only  wish  I  had  no  need  whatever  to  visit 
it  again.  Still,  I'll  just  see  if  Belloni  writes  to  me— 
when  he  does  gets  back  to  Paris — and  in  any  case  I 
must  return  via  Paris,  as  I've  still  a  few  things  to  attend 
to  there.— 

Here  in  Bordeaux,  where  I  arrived  last  Saturday 
[i6th],  I  am  bound  to  feel  almost  in  Heaven,  compared 
with  Paris  ;  you  can  form  no  idea  of  the  kindness  and 
devotion  of  this  family  !  It  consists  of  the  young  married 
couple  and  the  wife's  mother,  an  Englishwoman  who — 
equally  with  the  husband,  who  was  educated  at  the 
Plochmann  institute  in  Dresden — speaks  German  as  well 
as  ourselves.  Moreover,  there  is  a  whole  colony  of 
Germans  here,  rich  families  all,  and  all  of  them  honour 
me  highly.  What  else  shall  I  say  to  you,  than  that 
it  certainly  is  very  good  for  me  to  have  become  personally 
acquainted  in  this  fashion  with  the  dear  souls  who  have 
no  higher  ambition  now  than  to  make  myself  and  my 
good,  sore-tried,  and  faithful  wife  as  happy  as  ever  they're 
able  ?  It  is  a  rare  and  unheard-of  good  fortune,  that  has 
come  my  way.  The  young  husband,  a  most  charmingly 
sociable  fellow,  shewed  a  quite  indescribable  delight  when 
he  saw  me  arrive  ;  my  works  are  known  here  to  their  last 
note,  and  all  are  aware  what  the  question  is,  and  proud  to 
be  of  such  assistance  to  me. — On  one  point,  however,  I've 
i  6 


82 

much  ado  :  as  soon  as  my  hosts  heard  that  nothing  had 
come  of  my  overture  for  the  end  of  March,  they  naturally 
importuned  me  to  stay  here  longer.  But  I  explained  to 
them  that  I  should  have  to  help  you  in  the  moving,  and 
—honestly — in  spite  of  all  the  joy  I'm  tasting  now,  my 
whole  heart  is  yearning  to  be  back  at  home  with  you  ! 
Believe  me,  I  know  no  other  happiness,  than  to  be  able  to 
live  contentedly  and  tranquilly  beside  you  in  our  own 
little  domicile  ;  that  I  now  may  hope  to  see  your  cares 
allayed,  and  fortitude  and  cheerfulness  re-entering  your 
heart — ay,  body — 'tis  that  which  makes  me  \vell  again 
myself  and  happy.  Moreover,  Bordeaux  is  a  wilderness 
which  no  one  of  our  temperament  can  stand  for  long  ; 
even  my  friends  feel  themselves  out  of  the  world  here, 
and  in  spite  of  this  excellent  family,  at  no  price  would  I 
exchange  our  Switzerland  for  Bordeaux,  I've  such  a  Swiss 
home-sickness.  Ah,  Nature  !  that  is  something  to  your 
partner,  after  all  !  To  lead  a  happy  unmolested  life  with 
you,  dear  Minna,  in  that  glorious  fresh  Alpine  world,  is 
the  highest  bliss  I  can  desire  ! 

Perhaps  my  joy  will  have  a  bitter  taste  to  you,  for  this 
letter  may  possibly  find  you  in  the  thick  of  great  cares — 
especially  about  the  dwelling.  Please  set  my  mind  at  rest 
on  this  soon,  and  tell  me  if  Sulzer  has  succeeded  in 
keeping  the  promise  he  wrote  me  to  Paris,  to  find  us  a 
pleasant  abode  ?  Then  write  me  whether  you  are  well 
yourself,  and  if  the  removal  isn't  troubling  you  ?  Miiller 
once  told  me,  at  Zurich  they  don't  hurry  one  out,  and 
one  can  arrange  it  fairly  at  one's  own  convenience  ;  there- 
fore I  am  convinced  that  Escher — if  you  beg  him — will 
allow  you  a  long  limit  for  getting  our  things  out,  or  obtain 
it  us  from  our  successors  :  just  say  I  can't  return  yet. 
Then  write  me,  dear  \vife,  until  what  date  the  moving-out 


ZURICH    PERIOD  83 

can  be  put  off,  that  I  may  arrange  my  return  accordingly. 
I  don't  know  whether  Belloni  has  arrived  in  Paris,  but  in 
any  case  he'll  soon  be  getting  there,  and  it  perhaps  would 
be  as  well  if  I  still  could  spend  a  little  time  with  him 
discussing  and  arranging  something ;  I  don't  want  to 
leave  a  single  stone  unturned.  So  write  me  the  latest 
limit.  And  now,  good  Minel,  you  must  also  write  me 
whether  you  have  been  able  to  procure  yourself  .at  Zurich 
that  black  dress  you  wanted  :  if  not — that  I  may  get 
it  for  you  here,  or  else  in  Paris.  Bobin  of  the  Palais 
royal  no  longer  exists,  but  you  shall  have  shoes  notwith- 
standing ;  so  write  me  the  exact  number  again,  or  — 
better — put  a  tlircad  of  the  right  length  in  your  letter. 

Dear  child,  if  you  only  are  well  and  in  a  good 
disposition  !  That  is  my  sole  concern, — for  everything 
else  is  ordered  well  now  :  — I  tell  you,  they  are  caring  for 
us  as  loving  parents  for  their  children.  Only  one  thing  is 
accounted  a  fault  in  me  by  the  Laussots  :  if  I  keep  silence 
to  them  on  anything  of  weight,  any  real  anxiety.  You 
have  no  notion  of  these  people's  heavenly  kindness  and 
affection  !  Perhaps  the  wife,  at  least,  will  visit  us  in 
Switzerland  some  day,  to  convince  herself  that  we  are 
satisfied  and  lacking  nothing. 

So  farewell  for  to-day,  my  dear  Wife.  Be  of  good 
cheer,  forget  all  sorrows,  and  rejoice  in  the  affection  we 
enjoy  !  Keep  well,  and  write  me  soon  !  A  thousand 
salutes  and  kisses  from 

Thy 
R.W. 

Mr.  Eugene  Laussot 

26,  cours  du  y$  Jitillet 
£ 

Boi'deaux. 


84  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

36. 

PARIS,   17.  April  1850. 

DEAR  MINNA, 

I  still  call  you  so  despite  the  signature  of  that 
last  letter  I  received  from  you,  in  which  you  prayed  me 
to  address  you  next  time  with  your  ' '  Sie. "  *  "  Dear 
Minna  !  "  so  I  call  you  in  the  heavy  hoiir  wherein  I  turn 
my  face  to  you  to-day  ; — so  I  called  you  e'er  the  worst 
and  most  irreparable  dissonance  had  come  between  our 
souls  ;  and  so — if  you  will  grant  it  me — shall  you  live  for 
ever  in  my  memory  !— 

Your  letters  to  Bordeaux  came  as  a  violent  shock  to 
me,  the  wrench  from  a  fair  last — illusion  about  us.  I 
believed  I  had  won  you  at  last,  I  dreamed  I  saw  you 
yielding  to  the  might  of  true  affection, — and  terrible  was  the 
grief  wherewith  I  realised  more  infallibly  than  ever  that 
we  belong  to  each  other  no  more.  Thenceforth  I  could 
bear  it  no  longer  :  I  could  talk  with  no  one  any  more,  — I 
wished  to  get  away  at  once — to  you  ;  I  left  my  friends 
in  haste  and  sped  to  Paris,  from  thence  to  hurry  back  to 
Zurich.  Well,  I  have  been  here  a  fortnight  again  :  my 
old  nerve-trouble  overcame  me  ;  like  an  incubus  it  lies 
upon  me, — I  must  shake  it  off, — I  must,  for  my  -for  thy 
sake.  — 

Hear  me  out  !  The  absolute  discrepancy  at  bottom 
of  our  natures  has  shewn  itself  now  milder,  now  more 
glaringly,  the  whole  time  we  have  known  each  other,  to 
my  distress — and  in  particular  to  yours.  It  is  not  /  who 
need  remind  you  of  the  countless  scenes  that  have  occurred 
between  us  from  the  earliest  times, — for  probably  they 

*  It  may  here  be  necessary  to  remind  the  reader  that  in  this,  as  in  all 
his  other  letters  to  her,  past  and  future,  Wagner  retains  the  i'amiliar 
"Du."  The  affront  involved  in  a  zt'itkdrawal  of  that  intimate  pronoun 
is  hardly  realisable  by  the  Anglo-Saxon  mind. — Tr. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  85 

live  more  vivid  in  your  memory  than  in  my  own.  What 
bound  me  to  you  then  so  irresistibly,  however,  was  love  ; 
a  love  that  looked  beyond  all  difference, — but  a  love  you 
did  not  share  :  certainly  not,  at  least,  to  the  degree  in 
which  it  governed  me.  To  my  entreaties  for  our  union 
you  strictly  yielded  under  nothing  but  compulsion  [1836]  : 
perhaps  you  felt  towards  me  all  that  lay  in  you  to  feel,— 
only,  the  true  root  of  the  matter,  that  unquestioning  Love 
which  makes  one  bear  all  troubles  with  a  smile,  that 
Love  with  which  we  love  another  precisely  as  and 
for  the  thing  he  i'sy — that  Love  you  could  not  feel  ;  for 
even  then  you  did  not  understand  me,  as  you  ever  deemed 
I  should  be  other  than  I  am  in  truth.  Since  the  reunion 
after  that  first  breach  in  our  wedlock  [1837]  you  have 
strictly  been  guided  by  nothing  save  duty  towards  me,— 
it  was  duty  bade  you  bear  with  me  the  hardships  we 
endured  in  Paris,  and  even  in  your  last  letter  but  one  you 
name  nothing  save  duty  regarding  that  period — not  love. 
Had  your  heart  then  harboured  genuine  love  towards  me, 
you  would  never  be  boasting  of  endurance  of  those  suffer- 
ings, but,  in  your  firm  belief  in  me  and  what  I  am,  you 
would  have  recognised  in  them  a  necessity  to  which  one 
submits  for  the  sake  of  something  higher  ;  when  one's 
mind  is  set  on  nothing  but  that  Higher,  is  happy  in  the 
consciousness  thereof,  all  lower  sorrows  one  forgets.  But 
you — of  your  very  nature — at  any  rate  have  found  no 
recompense, — you  still  see  nothing  save  the  sorrows  ! 

After  my  appointment  at  Dresden,  your  growing 
opposition  to  me  appeared  exactly  at  the  epoch,  and  in 
degree  as — forgetting  my  personal  profit — I  no  longer  was 
able  to  bow  to  the  atrocious  managerial  relations  of  that 
art-establishment,  and  rebelled  against  them  in  the  interest 
of  my  art  and  independence  both  as  man  and  artist. 


86  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Anyone  who  observed  me  closely  and  sought  to  understand 
me  in  that  decisive  period  of  my  life,  will  be  forced  to 
admit  that  all  I  did  was  an  inevitably  direct  consequence 
of  my  artistic  nature,  with  which  I  kept  faith  notwith- 
standing all  personal  risks.  That  at  last  I  revolted  not 
only  as  artist,  but  also  as  man,  against  all  those  vicious 
conditions  which  none  could  regard  as  worse  torture  than 
I- — with  my  passionate  nature, — to  anyone  who  watched 
me  proceed  step  by  step  (not  at  a  bound)  to  the  standpoint 
I  now  occupy  as  artist  and  man,  this  must  appear  ex- 
tremely explicable,  and  therefore  also  worthy  of  no  blame. 
He  would  have  had  to  acknowledge  that  in  this  I  did  not 
behave  arbitrarily  nor  out  of  vanity,  for  he  would  have 
observed  how  I  suffered  under  it  ;  consequently  he  would 
have  spoken  me  words  of  comfort  and  encouragement  : 
and  my  wife  would  have  done  so,  if  she  had  chosen  to 
take  the  pains  to  understand  me  ;  for  which  she  by  no 
means  needed  book-learning,  but  simply  love  ! 

When  I  came  home  profoundly  vexed  and  agitated  by 
some  new  annoyance,  a  fresh  mortification,  another  failure, 
what  did  my  Wife  bestow  on  me  in  lieu  of  comfort 
and  uplifting  sympathy  ?  Reproaches,  fresh  reproaches, 
nothing  save  reproaches  !  Home-keeping  by  nature,  I 
remained  in  the  house  for  it  all  ;  but  at  last  no  longer  to 
express  myself,  convey  my  thoughts  and  receive  invigora- 
tion,  but  to  hold  my  tongue,  let  my  trouble  eat  into  my 
soul,  and  be — alone  !  This  eternal  restraint  under  which 
I  had  lived  so  long  already,  and  which  never  allowed  me 
to  let  myself  quite  go,  on  one  side,  without  occasioning  the 
fiercest  scenes,  weighed  me  down  and  wore  away  my  health. 
What  is  the  bodily  tending,  you  by  all  means  lavished  on 
me,  against  the  mental  needed  for  a  man  of  my  inner 
excitableness  !  Does  my  wife  remember,  perhaps,  how 


ZURICH    PERIOD  87 

coldly  she  once  prevailed  upon  herself  to  nurse  me  on  a 
bed  of  sickness  a  whole  week  without  affection,  because 
she  could  not  forgive  me  a  hasty  expression  before  my 
illness  ? 

Enough  !  The  fateful  hour  had  struck  :  I  had  to  flee 
[from  Dresden]  and  leave  everything  behind  me.  One 
wish  alone  had  I,  ere  altogether  quitting  Germany  :  to  see 
my  wife  once  more  !  All  else  was  indifferent  to  me,  even 
the  chance  of  my  capture, — but  without  that  one  solace  I 
would  not  depart.  Neither  to  give  me  that  solace,  nor  to 
receive  consolation  herself  from  a  final  embrace,  did  my 
wife  at  last  determine  to  concede  my  plea, — but  simply  to 
humour  an  obstinate  person  into  making  off  at  last — 
admittedly,  for  his  own  safety.  I  shall  never  forget  the 
night  I  was  awoken  in  my  place  of  refuge  to  welcome  my 
wife  :  chill  and  reproachful  she  stood  before  me,  and 
spake  these  words,  "  Well,  as  you  insisted,  I've  come  ; 
now  perhaps  you'll  be  satisfied  !  So  get  on  with  your 
journey  ;  I  must  be  starting  back  myself  to-night."  At 
Jena  at  last  I  succeeded  in  moving  you  to  a  hearty  warm 
farewell  :  that  farewell  was  my  comfort  when  afar.  I  had 
only  one  thought  :  prompt,  instant  reunion  ;  with  the  full 
heat  of  my  soul  did  I  beg  you  for  it  in  my  letters.  Then 
at  last,  in  the  country  near  Paris,  I  received  that  deplor- 
able letter  whose  heartless  unlovingness  froze  me  to  ice  : 
you  declared  you  had  no  mind  to  rejoin  me  till  I  could 
support  you  abroad  by  my  earnings  ;  you  further  expressed 
to  me  plainly,  that  you  had  lost  all  love  for  me. — All  that 
happened  afterwards  will  be  still  fresh  in  your  memory. 
You  wrote  me  again,  announcing  your  decision  to  come 
to  me  at  Zurich  :  I  therefore  might  hope  anew.  Eh, 
I  nursed  the  hope  of  being  able  to  win  you  wholly  to 
myself  at  last,  convince  you  of  [the  truth  of]  my  ideas, 


88  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

make  you  more  familiar  with  me  in  the  end.  Unremitting 
were  my  efforts  to  smooth  your  outer  path.  You  came,— 
how  happy  I  was  !  And  yet — unhappy  me  ! — not  to 
myself 'had  you  come,  to  cast  in  your  lot  with  me  just  as  I 
was,  — but  to  that  Wagner  who,  as  you  supposed,  would 
soon  be  composing  an  opera  for  Paris  !  In  Dresden  you 
had  been  ashamed  to  say  you  were  joining  me  in  Switzer- 
land, but  gave  out  you  were  going  to  Paris,  and  your  hus- 
band— as  you  apparently  believed  yourself — had  a  contract 
all  signed  in  his  pocket.  O,  the  huge  mistake  between  us 
two  was  bound  to  reveal  itself  more  every  day  !  All  my 
sentiments  and  views  remained  a  horror  to  you, — my  writ- 
ings you  abominated,  though  I  tried  to  explain  to  you  that 
they  were  more  needful  to  me  for  the  present  than  any 
bootless  opera-writing.  Every  person  with  whose  opinions 
I  did  not  agree,  you  championed  ;  all  those  of  like  opinion 
with  myself  you  condemned, — I  durst  not  so  much  as 
excuse  them  to  you.  For  our  former  conditions  you  ever 
repined  ;  the  only  light  in  which  you  viewed  the  future, 
was  a  reconciliation  with  them,  or — a  Paris  success.  My 
whole  being  was  an  object  of  aversion  to  you  ;  at  every 
instant,  ah  !  almost  with  every  movement,  I  was  bound 
to  do  something  you  did  not  approve.  — In  short,  I  realised 
at  length  my  boundless  solitude  with  you,  since  I  saw  how 
impossible  it  was  to  win  you  to  me.  Just  to  procure 
myself  peace  with  you,  I  resumed  my  Paris  plans  more 
seriously.  The  inner  constraint  of  it,  the  odious  battling 
with  my  own  conviction,  the  impossibility  of  making 
myself  understood  by  my  nearest  surroundings,  there  to 
find  solace,  help  and  counsel, — all  this  engendered  in  me 
states  of  soul  which  could  but  sorely  aggravate  my  bodily 
ill-health  through  adding  sickness  of  the  mind.  I  was 
still  debating  if  I  really  meant  to  go  to  Paris  in  such  a 


ZURICH    PERIOD  89 

state  ;  weak  and  tottering  as  I  was,  the  last  Sunday  I 
approached  you  and  said,  "  Minna,  oughtn't  I  to  wait  for 
another  letter  from  Belloni  first?  "  But  you  were  weary 
of  the  long  delay — for  with  you  it  had  never  been  a 
question  of  anything  save  Paris  ;  also  you  wanted  to  have 
the  parlour  scoured  at  last  and  the  whole  apartment 
cleaned.  In  short — this  time  again  you  didii1 1  understand 
poorest  me^  and  answered  my  enquiry  in  a  hufF ;  so  that, 
feeble  and  ill,  I  braved  wind  and  weather,  booked  my 
place  there  and  then,  and  at  all  events  had  made  my  mind 
up,  for  I  knew  what  a  life  I  should  lead  if  I  tried  to 
remain.  — 

Here  in  Paris,  amid  torments  of  all  kinds,  at  the  sight 
of  this  shameful  huckstering  with  art  I  firmly  resolved 
to  renounce  once  for  all  what  to  me  was  impossible,  and 
irrevocably  turn  my  back  on  the  whole  bag  of  tricks. 
I  had  only  one  care — not  for  myself,  but  for  you — the 
care  about  our  livelihood.  And  lo  !  a  bond  of  friendship 
of  the  rarest  and  most  exalting  kind  had  forged  itself, — 
that  care  was  suddenly  removed  from  me  :  you  yourself 
had  been  the  first  to  hear  it.  Then  I  wrote  you  from 
Bordeaux,  how  I  knew  but  one  remaining  happiness,  to 
go  on  living  quietly  with  you  at  Zurich  for  the  health 
of  both  of  us,  and  so  be  able  to  create  after  my  own 
heart. 

Your  letter  tore  it  all  to  shreds  :  you  stand  before  me 
unappeasable — seeking  honour  where  I  almost  see  dis- 
grace, and  feeling  shame  at  what  I  deem  most  welcome. 
As  said,  not  to  me  did  you  come  to  Zurich,  but  to  the 
composer  of  a  new  opera  on  order  for  Paris.  Yes,  now 
I  understand  all  ! 

You  refer  me  to  a  previous  letter, — I  know  it  :  it's 
that  letter  of  last  year  !  You  are  true  to  yourself ! — In 


90  RICHARD    TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

every  line  it  stands  clear  and  distinct  that  you  do  not 
love  me,  for  you  mock  at  every  single  thing  I'm  fond  of, 
even  at  the  Du  which — following  my  inner  bent — I  like 
best  to  call  whoever  isn't  to  remain  a  stranger  to  me. — 
So,  what  can  my  love  be  now?  Only  the  wish,  in 
reward  for  the  youth  you  passed  in  vain  with  me,  for 
the  hardships  you've  surmounted  with  me,  to  make  you 
happy.  Can  I  so  much  as  hope  to  attain  that  by  living 
with  you  ? — Impossible  ! 

37. 

Saturday,  4.  May  1850. 

DEAR  MINNA, 

I  cannot  help  writing  to  you  once  more,  ere 
going  far  away. — It  has  remained  unknown  to  me,  as 
indeed  I  could  but  wish,  how  you  received  the  decisive 
step  I  announced  from  my  side  in  my  last  letter  to  you. 
As  you  have  so  often  entertained  the  thought  of  living 
apart  from  me  and  so  recovering  your  independence,  I 
presume  and  also  hope  that,  though  surprised  perhaps, 
you  were  not  alarmed  at  my  decision.  For  my  part  I 
live  in  hopes  that  in  separation  the  mutual  recollection 
of  our  past  life  will  take  a  more  benign,  even  a  more 
consoling  aspect,  than  would  have  been  the  case  had  we 
gone  on  living  together, — when  the  constant  friction  of 
our  radically  different  and  opposing  natures  might  have 
only  given  rise  to  strife  and  rancour. 

It  was  the  news  I  have  to  impart  to-day,  however, 
that  formed  my  very  special  reason  for  writing  you  again, 
since  I  have  a  feeling  as  if  it  must  soften  for  you  all  the 
possible  bitters  of  our  separation.  I  am  on  the  point  of 
starting  for  Marseilles,  to  wit,  whence  I  shall  take  an 
English  boat  to  Malta,  and  thence  go  on  to  Greece  and 


ZURICH    PERIOD  91 

Asia  Minor.  I  have  always  felt,  and  the  most  strongly 
in  these  latter  days,  the  need  of  issuing  from  this  narrow 
life  of  books  and  thoughts,  which  so  consumes  me,  to 
look  a  little  round  me  in  the  world  for  once.  The 
modern  world  is  closed  behind  me  for  the  present,  since 
I  detest  it  and  want  to  have  nothing  more  to  do  with 
either  it  or  what  its  creatures  nowadays  call  ' '  art. ' ' 
Germany  can  never  become  a  field  of  interest  to  me  again 
until  all  its  conditions  are  totally  changed  ;  any  endeavour 
to  set  myself  in  tune  with  them  could  only  make  me 
boundlessly  unhappy,  and  more  and  more  sick  of  my 
life.  So  my  longing  of  late  had  again  been  directed 
much  farther  afield,  to  a  complete  withdrawal  for  a  time 
from  our  modern  conditions,  and  the  restoration  of  my 
body  and  mind  by  change  of  scene,  sight  and  hearing, 
in  other  climes.  In  this  last  crisis,  then,  I  conceived 
the  plan  [of  a  journey]  to  Greece  and  the  East,  and  am 
lucky  enough  to  see  the  means  of  executing  it  now  placed 
at  my  disposal  from  London.  For  in  London  I  have 
gained  a  new  protector,  one  of  the  most  eminent  English 
lawyers,  who  knows  my  works,  and  in  return  for  a  certain 
obligation — the  assignment  to  him  of  the  original  manu- 
script of  everything  I  write  in  the  future — will  accord 
me  his  support.* 


*  The  "  mir  seine  Unterstiitzung  zu  theil  werden  lasst "  appears  to 
imply  the  future,  though  this  "  new  protector  "—certainly  not  the  Mr. 
Ellerton  we  shall  meet  in  London  1855 — strongly  resembles  a  myth.  But 
the  letter  itself  is  the  strangest  in  the  whole  collection,  with  its  transitory 
signs  of  slight  mental  unhingement,  e.g.  the  curious  reference  to  Germany 
in  the  next  paragraph.  Neither  have  we  been  afforded  any  clue  as  to 
whether  it  was  sent  from  Paris  or  Bordeaux  ;  to  which  latter  city,  as  we 
learn  from  no.  173,  Wagner  returned  awhile  ere  leaving  France  about  the 
middle  of  the  month — to  join  the  Ritters  on  the  Lake  of  Geneva,  and  at 
length  regain  his  fortitude  and  equilibrium  through  their  fostering  aid. 
-Tr. 


92  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

I  believed  this  news  must  bring  some  reassurance  to 
yourself,  dear  Minna,  in  case  you  need  it  ;  under  any 
circumstances  I  hope  you  will  not  grudge  me  the  exe- 
cution of  my  project,  and- —providing  you  do  not  believe 
you  must  sever  yourself  from  me  completely — here  you 
obtain  a  good  screen  against  any  public  remark.  You 
can  tell  all  the  world  that,  after  the  abandonment  of  my 
Paris  plans,  I  had  found  there  was  nothing  suitable  or 
of  profit  for  me  to  do  at  present  either  in  Germany  or 
France,  consequently  I  had  gladly  seized  a  sudden  op- 
portunity of  carrying  out  an  old  pet  wish,  namely  of 
spending  some  time  on  a  visit  to  Greece  and  the  East  ; 
and  that,  alike  for  reason  of  the  urgence  of  the  oppor- 
tunity, and  to  spare  myself  the  pain  of  a  personal  leave- 
taking — I  had  started  on  my  travels  without  seeing  you 
first.  That  would  be  telling  no  untruth,  particularly  as 
regards  the  last  point  :  it  would  have  been  quite  im- 
possible for  me — in  all  the  circumstances — to  visit  you 
again  at  Zurich,  to  see  yourself,  take  leave  of  dog  and 
bird  ;  much  as  I  have  suffered  already,  that  personal 
goodbye  would  probably  have  ruined  all  my  future. 
Believe  me,  it  had  to  be  so  ;  it  is  better  for  yourself  so— 
equally  with  me. 

So  let  us  be  parted  now  !  If  we  retain  our  health, 
if  times  and  circumstances  alter,  we  shall  always  have 
the  hope  of  meeting  later.  But  separation  for  the  present 
will  do  us  good. — 

From  London  you  will  soon  receive  the  needful  for 
your  maintenance.  If  you  would  rejoice  my  heart  ex- 
ceedingly, you  will  arrange  your  life  as  pleasantly  as 
possible  ;  lay  out  a  tiny  garden  somewhere  for  yourself, 
cherish  dog  and  bird,  and — hope  for  the  future. 

I    could   almost  wish  you  not    to    write    to   me   once 


ZURICH    PERIOD  93 

more  ;  for,  in  whatever  sense  you  do  write,  it  is  certain 
to  affect  me  painfully.  But  should  you  have  a  kind 
farewell  to  bid  me  for  the  present,  then  write  paste  restante 
to  Marseilles.  To  tell  the  truth,  I  don't  think  I  can 
wait  for  the  letter  there,  as,  according  to  my  information 
just  received,  the  boat  will  be  leaving  May  7,  so  that  I 
shall  have  the  greatest  hurry  ;  but  I'll  leave  word  behind 
to  send  my  letters  after  me. 

Farewell,  then,  dear  Minna  !  sore-tried  Wife  to  whom 
I  can  make  no  recompense,  alas,  and  whom — perhaps 
for  her  own  healing — I  even  must  forsake.  Farewell, 
and — if  you  can — remember  me  with  kindness  !  Tidings 
you  shall  have  from  me, — and — surely  we  may  still  hope 
for  a  Wiedersehen  ! 

Salute  your  parents,  salute  our  friends  !  Do  not  be 
angry  with  me  for  having  to  part  from  you  all  !  — 

Farewell  !      Farewell,  dear  good  Minna  !      Farewell, 

Thy 

RICHARD  W. 

[  IVagner  did  not  go  to  Greece — see  last  footnote — and  his  friends  seem 
to  have  brought  round  Minna  also  in  the  end,  for  he  rejoins  her  at  Zurich 
toward  the  beginning  of  July,  if  not  a  little  earlier.  But  we  possess  no 
furtlier  letter  to  Jier  anterior  to  autumn  of  the  next  year,  that  numbered 
"  38  "  in  the  current  German  edition  manifestly  winding  up  the  Albisbrunn 
group,  to  the  rear  of  which  I  shall  therefore  transfer  it.  Not  to  dislocate 
the  original  numbering  of  the  others,  no.  "  38  "  will  therefore  drop  out  in 
appearance,  though  not  in  reality.  —  7>.] 


39. 

ALBISBRUNN,  Sunday  noon. 

28.  Scptbr.  1851. 

Ah,  you  good  Wife,  what  a  wonderfully  fine  letter 
you've  written  me  !  The  only  pity  is,  I  have  to  reply  to 
it  this  way,  and  cannot  thank  you  for  it  verbally  to-day, 


94  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

as  you  supposed.  Your  letter,  my  dear  Mietz,*  has  only 
this  moment  reached  me,  namely  Sunday  noon,  11.30  ;  so 
you've  been  hopelessly  out  with  your  post  time  :  it  leaves 
Zurich  at  8  in  the  morning,  and  there  is  none  after  ; 
therefore,  if  you  want  a  letter  to  reach  me  the  same  day, 
it  must  be  at  the  post  by  7  A.M.  at  latest,  or  else  it  will 
remain  there  all  day  and  not  go  off  until  next  morning. 
So  look  a  little  sharper,  next  time  you  want  your  dear 
good  husband  with  you  on  a  Sunday  ! — 

The  weather  is  too  atrocious  !  As  it  was  fine  on 
Friday,  I  had  fully  expected  it  to  be  so  to-day,  and  con- 
sequently never  entertained  the  possibility  of  not  seeing 
you  here.  Hven  with  this  bad  weather,  moreover,  for  a 
time  I  was  uncertain  whether  you  wouldn't  come  after 
all  ;  which  I  should  have  regretted,  all  the  same,  for  your 
sake.  Had  I  been  perfectly  sure,  probably  I  should  have 
set  forth  myself  in  spite  of  it  ;  quite  certainly,  if  I  had 
received  your  letter  time  enough. — The  only  thing  now 
is  to  console  oneself  and  do  better  next  time  :  we'll  write 
that  up  behind  our  best  ears,  won't  we  ?-^- 

For  the  rest,  I  conclude  from  your  letter  that  you 
haven't  got  poorlier  ;  though  it  would  have  been  more  of 
a  satisfaction  if  you  had  told  me  so  expressly.  Much  as  I 
am  looking  forward  to  seeing  you  in  the  new  apartments, 
still  I  fancied  we  had  settled,  that— in  case  nothing  hap- 
pened— you  would  be  paying  me  a  visit  here  first.  Now 
let  us  put  that  quite  straight  for  next  Sunday,  and  this 
way  :  if  the  weather  is  fine,  you  will  come  out  to  me 
unconditionally — with  friends  or  without  ;  only  if  it's  bad 
weather,  shall  I  come  in  to  you. — 


*  One  might  render  it  "  Kitten"  or  "Puss,"  but  as  Mietz,  Mutz,  and 
their  various  diminutives  will  frequently  recur,  this  note  must  do  duty 
for  all.— Tr. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  95 

How  glad  I  am  that  you  are  seeing  "  human  animals  " 
again,  and  are  pleased  with  the  new  abode  in  general. 
It's  very  tedious  here  ;  of  an  evening  I  play  whist  with 
[Hermann]  Miiller  and  Karl  [Ritter].  I'm  contented  with 
the  cure,  however  ;  to-day  in  particular  I  am  feeling  quite 
brisk,  and  of  a  morning  I  can  scarcely  wait  for  my  cold 
bath.  Only  I  have  to  be  very  strict  about  a  thing  I 
never  knew  before  :  no  matter  my  appetite,  I'm  not  to 
eat  too  much  ;  this  large  appetite — which  is  certainly 
better  than  none  at  all — has  really  become  morbid,  since 
I  suffer  from  indigestion  as  a  rule,  and  on  that  ground 
have  to  moderate  it  much  :  if  I  control  myself  in  this 
respect,  I  always  feel  better  afterwards.  But  on  that 
another  time.— 

Now  one  thing  more,  dear  Minna.  Please  get  your- 
self a  pretty  bird-cage  made  (a  wicker  stand  with  flowers 
&c.)  just  like  the  one  you  had  in  Dresden.  I  am  buying 
a  pair  of  canaries — male  and  female — which  I  should  like 
you  to  have.  It  was  a  singular  chance,  in  a  certain  sense 
a  lucky  chance  (I'll  tell  you  all  about  it  by  mouth),  my 
meeting  the  man  with  the  dicky-birds  on  my  stroll  down 
the  road  ;  I  thought  of  you  at  once,  and  how  it  would 
delight  you  if  I  took  them  off  him  for  you.  So  write  me 
what  you  think — for  I  can  still  cancel  the  purchase  if 
need  be — and  should  you  care  for  it,  then  order  the  bower 
at  once.— 

Time's  up  :  I  mustn't  write  more  at  one  sitting.  I 
have  no  further  news  from  anywhere  as  yet,  not  even  the 
money  from  Schwerin,  but  already  have  written  about 
that.  I  shall  have  enough  for  this  Monday,  and  expect 
to  get  that  money  before  the  Monday  after. — Has  Peps 
made  himself  at  home  in  the  new  dwelling  ? — Now  fare- 
well, dear  good  Wife  ;  be  sure  that  your  letter  delighted 


96  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

me  greatly  to-day.      Accept  my  thanks  for  it,  and  keep 
fond  of 

Your  good 

WATERMAN. 

40. 

ALBISBRUNN 

Sunday ;  5.  October  1851. 
Noon. 

DEAR   MINNA, 

I  arranged  with  you  that  you  should  come  out  to 
me  to-day  in  any  case,  and  in  any  case  I  wouldn't  come 
in,  to  avoid  our  crossing  through  any  uncertainty  about 
the  weather,* — and  you  haven't  come.  I  can't  blame 
you  for  it  ;  but  please  don't  let  us  settle  anything  again. 
When  one  has  fine  weather  almost  all  the  week,  I  find  it 
too  absurd  to  make  Sunday  one's  only  day  for  undertaking 
things,  when  of  course  the  weather  always  turns  out  bad. 
Yesterday,  when  it  was  so  superb,  I  really  believed  you'd 
be  sensible  and  get  on  the  road  ; — whoever  of  the  others 
cared  to  visit  me,  could  very  well  have  followed  you 
to-day. — To  speak  candidly,  I'm  much  put  out :  if  you 
had  wanted  to  visit  me,  you  would  have  soon  discovered 
how  and  when  ;  but  all  you  seem  to  care  for,  is  a  general 
excursion  with  the  rest.  It's  different  with  me  :  I  think 
very  small  beer  of  the  others — for  here  at  least.  A 
meeting  with  X  of  itself  never  yields  me  good  humour, 
for  I  always  have  to  curb  myself :  which  greatly  flusters 
me,  particularly  during  a  cure  ;  therefore,  as  it  really 
isn't  good  for  me,  I  shall  not  come  to  town  again  so  soon. 
Consequently,  if  you  want  to  see  me,  you  must  make  up 
your  mind  for  a  seat  in  the  diligence,  stay  the  night  here, 

*  Either  a  billet  is  missing  here,  or  Wagner  must  have  run  over  to 
Zurich  himself  between  this  and  the  preceding  letter. — Tr. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  97 

and  see  how  you   can  amuse  yourself  with  me. — But  I 
shan't  expect  you  any  more  ;  for,  I  confess,  this  fruitless 
waiting  upsets  me  very  disagreeably  just  now. 
I  don't  even  get  my  letters  !— 

Farewell,    and    entertain    yourself    well  :     the    hearty 
wish  of 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

So  you  are  not  in  need  of  money  either,  as  you 
told  me  ? 

41. 

ALBISBRUNN,  Monday,  6.  Octbr.  1851. 

DEAR  MINNA, 

Though  I  didn't  strictly  mean  to  expect  you  any 
more,  since  you  never  come,  just  now  I  felt  drawn  to 
the  Post  notwithstanding,  to  see  if  you  would  come.  Of 
course  you  have  not,  once  again,  but  in  your  place  a  letter 
of  yesterday  telling  me  you  no  doubt  would  come  to-day. 
I  don't  know  what  to  make  of  it.  For  that  matter,  even 
if  you  didn't  come  yourself,  you  surely  might  have  for- 
warded the  big  letter  that  lies  in  your  rooms  for  me  ;  I 
am  much  annoyed  at  receiving  no  more  letters.— 

(Apropos,  I  must  assure  you  again,  that  (after  my 
making  you  the  expensive  birthday-present)  your  having 
gone  to  Sulzer  for  money  has  been  particularly  distasteful 
to  me  this  time.  You  might  have  said  a  word  to  me 
about  it  first  ;  it  would  have  been  quite  easy  for  me  to  get 
money  from  Karl — and  so  on.)— 

We    shall   have  very  fine  weather  again   to-day  ;  but 

presumably  you'll  wait  once  more  until  it's  bad,  and  then 

not    come,   of  course,    because  of  it.      I  have  been   here 

3  weeks,  and  you  haven't  called  on  me  a  single  time  yet. 

VOL.    I  7 


98         RICHARD  TO  MINNA  WAGNER 

All  the  other  guests  here,  who  have  relatives  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood, have  been  visited  by  them  repeatedly.  I'm 
quite  ashamed  of  myself,  and  keep  saying  :  My  wife  will 
come  tomorrow,  or,  She'll  come  the  first  fine  day. — But 
there,  remain  where  you're  better  off  ;  I  shall  just  give  it 
up  entirely,  not  to  set  myself  in  this  eternal  flurry  of 
waiting  in  vain. 

—From  all  which,  dear  Minna,  you  will  perceive  the 
good  humour  you  put  me  in.     May  it  soon  grow  better,  or 
the  cure  will  certainly  not  take  much  effect  on  me. 
Farewell,  and  write  soon  again  to 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

[To  judge  by  oztr  next,  she  either  came  that  afternoon  by  private  con- 
veyance, or  within  a  day  or  two.  — 7X] 

42. 

ALBISBRUNN,  12.  Octbr.  1851. 

Ach  !  Ach  !  Ach  ! — You  quite  prodigiously  good 
Wife  !— Ach  !  Oh  !  Oh  !  how  shall  I  thank  you  ?— My, 
what  lovely  nuts  they  are  !  I've  been  so  busy  nut-eating, 
that  I  couldn't  get  to  letter-writing  until  this  instant. 
Ach,  and  the  stockings  !  and  the  cigars  !  and  the  brush  ! 
and  the  knife  into  the  bargain  !  No  :  it's  really  too  much 
for  a  poor  waterman.— Ach  !  you  immensely  good  Wife  !— 
Ach  !  Ach  !  Ach  ! — what  am  I  to  say  to  it  all  ? — 

As  to-day's  weather  is  lovely  beyond  any  conception, 
I  was  just  thinking,  If  the  whole  lot  of  them  don't  come 
out  to-day  from  Zurich,  they've  all  gone  crazy  !  Now 
your  letter  clears  up  the  enigma.  If  Sulzer  only  would 
come  here  right  out  !  It  would  be  the  best  thing  for 
him.— 

Since  you  people  haven't  come,  I  must  candidly  admit 


ZURICH    PERIOD  99 

that  I  almost  prefer  it,  as  I  should  have  been  unable  to  do 
much  gadding  about  with  you  :  a  crisis  has  set  in  with 
me,  which  I  hope  will  do  me  a  heap  of  good.  Though  I 
have  had  a  couple  of  days'  fever  and  been  very  shaky  on 
my  legs,  my  head  is  clear,  my  humour  fairly  good,  and 
appetite  excellent ;  so  you  see  it's  not  a  case  of  Heaven- 
wards yet.  On  the  contrary,  I  think  of  making  a 
thorough  good  cure  ;  my  spots  are  beginning  to  shew 
stronger  and  stronger.  Only,  I  need  quiet  for  the 
present. 

— Uhlig  has  written  :  nothing  of  importance,  and  no 
danger  for  him  ! — Billow's  letter  from  Weimar  was  a  real 
delight :  he  is  doing  very  well  there.  But  Ljszt  isn't 
back  yet  ! — 

Halt  !   I  must  stop  :   it's  a  quarter  to  i.      We've  creme 
again  to-day,  because  we  thought  you  all  were  coining. — 
Now,    my   good,    dear — bad,    wicked — Wife,    be    sensible 
and  visit    me    again   with.   Pepsel   very   soon.      That — be 
sure  of  it — is  the  greatest  pleasure  you  can  give  me. — 

Greet  the   Zurich   clan  ;    the   Albisbrunn   brood   sends 
greetings  likewise. 

Entirely 

Thine  own 

R. 

43. 

ALBISBRUNN,  17.  October  1851. 

DEAR  MINNA, 

As  I  am  obliged  to  answer  you  at  once — on 
account  of  the  tax  business — I  can  only  do  it  very  briefly, 
since  the  time  between  arrival  and  departure  of  letters 
here  is  very  short.  I  don't  at  all  know  what  I'm  to  fill 
up  in  the  form,  or  what  to  declare  ;  moreover,  I  never 
clapped  eyes  on  such  a  form  last  year,  and  this  is  the  very 


TOO  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

first  time.  Therefore — not  to  do  anything  stupid — I  shall 
simply  sign  it,  and  you  must  be  so  good  as  to  beg  Sulzer, 
in  my  name,  to  fill  up  the  rubrics  for  me  as  he  may  think 
fit.  What  is  there  for  me  to  declare  ?  I  have  no  pro- 
perty, and  can  earn  as  good  as  nothing,  at  least  nothing 
settled,  and  least  of  all  in  Switzerland  and  Zurich.  All 
I  could  say,  then,  would  be  :  What  I  need  to  maintain 
me,  I  receive  from  abroad.  But  Sulzer  will  soon  find  out 
the  proper  wording,  and  write  it  in  for  me. 

—I  have  received  the  Schwerin  honorarium,  but  with 
a  deduction  of  2  louis  d'or  for  the  Berlin  Jews,  of  course  ; 
therefore  only  18  louis,  3  of  which  were  assigned  to  Hug 
of  Zurich  [bookseller  etc.],  10  louis  d'or  I  at  once  repaid  to 
Miiller. — But  you  can  pull  along  for  the  present,  can't 
you  ?  The  beginning  of  November — if  you  will — there'll 
be  money  again. 

Otherwise  I'm  doing  better  ;  it  was  a  kind  of  nerve- 
crisis  that  had  set  in,  making  me  feel  extraordinarily 
weak,  and  at  length  excited  ;  but  it  did  not  alarm  me,  as 
I  had  a  splendid  appetite  all  the  time. — Since  it  was  too 
noisy  for  me  down  below,  though,  Brunner  has  given  me 
a  very  nice  room  on  the  first  floor,  where  it  is  quieter. 
To-day  I've  recommenced  the  cold  ablutions,  which  suit 
me  ;  I'm  feeling  brisk.  My  digestion  will  soon  get  into 
order,  too,  I  hope.— 

So — your  excursioning  is  still  a  long  way  off?  I 
expect  you  people  have  given  up  wanting  it  now  ;  for  we 
have  had  our  fine  weather,  and  it  will  not  return.  What 
id —  you  all  are  ! 

I  have  nothing  more  to  write  to  you,  dearest  of  wives, 
for  of  course  nothing  ever  happens  here.  Merely,  I  have 
won  i  franc  off  Karl  at  billiards  ;  but  I  shall  have  to  do 
a  lot  of  sharping  before  1  cover  your  gaming  losses  here.— 


ZURICH    PERIOD  101 

Now,  for  God  and  the  Holy  Trinity's  sake,  have  yon  not 
been  to  the  Prophet  ?  Do  write  me  what  you're  doing, 
and  whether  Boom  [Baumgartner]  is  in  full  finger-power 
to  play  the  grand  into  trim  ?  Please  ask  him  to  dinner, 
and  give  him  a  thumping  beafsteak.— 

Farewell  now  ;  give  Peps  my  blessing.  Write  and 
come  ;  and — hold  me  dear,  too. 

Thy 

first-rate  HUSBAND. 

\To  Uhlig,  Oct.  30,  '51  :  "  My  wife  has  been  paying  me  a  visit  of  \ 
days;  she  left  again  only  this  morning." — With  the  following  playful 
scrap  of  doggrcl  it  naturally  is  impossible  to  find  equivalents  for  all  the 
original  rhymes,  ' '  Striimpfc  .  .  Siimpfe  .  .  Klilmpfe  .  ,  Trump fe  .  . 
Striimpfe  .  .  Funpfc." — 7r.] 

44. 

ALBISBRUNN,  3.  Nov.  1851. 

Minna,  send  me  stockings  soon  ; 
Our  swamps  are  fit  for  divers  : 
The  mud  just  sticks  to  me  in  lumps. 
At  whist  I  also  lack  the  trumps  : 
So  set  me  on  my  feet  again, 
And  send  a  pair  of  fivers  ! 

45. 

ALBISBRUNN,  7.  November  1851. 

BEST  MUTZIGEX, 

We  are  making  vairses — ! 

Your  verses  were  decidedly  the  best,  though  ;  there 
was  a  swing  about  them  that  made  a  deep  impression  on 
me  !  They  leave  me  nothing  but  to  thank  you  in  prose  ; 
and  that  I'm  doing.— 

But  how  about  your  dress  ?     Is  it  being  worked  at  ? — 


102  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

As  the  elastic  doesn't  appear  on  your  account,  have  you 
by  any  chance  been  borrowing  money  off  Sulzer  ?  Fie 
on  you  !  But  1  suppose  you  will  pay  him  back  now  ? 
If  only  he'll  accept  it  !— 

My  longing  for  home  and  the  pretty  abode  is  growing 
stronger  and  stronger,  and  I  really  am  looking  forward 
very  much  to  my  return  ;  but  the  wet  packings  are  still 
too  imperative,  since  my  eruption  is  coming  out  over  a 
great  part  of  my  body  now,  in  fact  very  painfully.  The 
rest  of  the  cure  I  can  easily  pursue  at  home  ;  if  necessary, 
indeed,  you  can — in  fact,  must — wet-pack  me  yourself 
now  and  then  :  only,  I  can't  undertake  a  regular  course  of 
these  packings  at  home  with  you,  as  certain  things  will 
not  comport  with  them  at  all  ;  so  I  must  get  finished  with 
that  part  of  it  here.  Nevertheless  I'll  fix  a  latest  limit, 
that  you  may  not  jump  out  of  your  skin  for  impatience  : 
I  shall  leave  here  Sunday  morning  the  2yd  of  November ; 
that  day  I'll  pass  alone  with  you  at  Zurich,  and  Monday 
the  24th  we  will  celebrate  our  wedding-day.  So  long — 
you'll  have  to  wait — there's  no  help  for  it  ;  but  between 
this  and  then  I  expect  to  have  got  my  skin  quite  clear 
as  well,  and  consequently  to  regard  my  cure  as  finished 
and  complete.  So — that  is  settled.  Muzius,  do  make  a 
reasonable  face  at  it  !— 

Karl  suddenly  drove  off  to  town  the  other  day — after 
3  o'clock — to  buy  himself  a  very  handsome  dressing- 
gown  ;  in  which  he  succeeded  :  only,  it  had  become  too 
late  for  him  to  call  on  you  as  well. — Couldn't  you  send 
Nette  to  the  music-shop,  to  remind  them  to  send  me  off 
the  old  musical  journals  ?  I  suppose  you  have  returned 
those  I  gave  you  last  time.— 

But  why  do  you  send  me  no  night-shirts  ?      Oh  !— 
Now,   good   Minel,   a  fond   farewell  !      Don't  flirt  too 


ZURICH    PERIOD  103 

much  ;  it  might  do  you  harm.      Get  on  with  the  dress, 
and  hold  me  dear. 

Thy 

•*•  •%•  •%• 

(in  Christo  /) 

46. 

ALBISBRUNN,  9.  Novenber  1851. 

DEAR  MIENEL, 

To-day  I  have  entered  the  last  week  but  one  of 
my  cure  here  ;  eleven  more  packs  (on  Sundays  I  have 
none)  and  I  shall  be  finished.  My  shingles  on  the  thighs 
and  calves  are  out  in  fine  form,  and  have  pained  and 
irritated  me  exactly  as  they  did  last  spring  ;  as  for  the 
rest,  the  sweating  and  strong  perspirations  have  chased 
away  the  worst  of  them,  particularly  on  the  chest  and 
arms.  What  a  disgraceful  thing  that  sulphur-cure  was  ! 
The  whole  first  month  here  I  sweated  nothing  but  sulphur, 
and  then  came  the  bad  humours  the  sulphur  had  simply 
driven  inwards.  I  was  sure  there  was  something  festering 
in  my  blood. — I  am  getting  it  pretty  stiff  now,  but 
standing  it  well,  and  coming  to  feel  as  if  in  a  new  body. 

That  "  Pardon  story  "  I  heard  on  Friday  evening, 
when  the  postmaster  at  Hausen,  having  just  read  it  in 
the  Friday  paper,  brought  both  it  and  himself  all  hot  to 
my  room.  Since  then,  I  have  read  nothing  more  about 
it  anywhere  ;  most  probably  there's  nothing  in  it,  or  an 
official  intimation  would  have  already  been  made  to  the 
Swiss  authorities.  Should  it  be  confirmed,  all  it  would 
mean  to  me  now,  would  be  the  urgent  necessity  for 
becoming  a  Swiss  citizen,  as  the  refugee  protection  would 
be  at  end.  In  any  event  it  will  be  well  for  me  to  get 
naturalised  here  before  long  ;  the  Ritters  will  supply  me 
the  means, — Karl  wants  to  be  naturalised  himself.— 


104  RICHARD   TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

So  you  would  like  to  see  Lohengrin  performed  at 
Zurich  ? — Not  bad  either  !— 

You  say  I've  started  something  odd  each  year,  and  your 
only  worry  is  what  I'm  going  to  hit  on  for  the  next  ? 
That  I  shall  tell  you  at  once  :  next  year,  I  hope,  the  two 
of  us  will  take  a  lovely  trip  to  Italy.  Would  that  be  so 
great  a  calamity  ? — 

Klarchen  Brockhaus  has  written  me  a  very  nice 
letter  :  she  asks  after  you  most  affectionately.  When  I 
get  home  again,  we'll  write  her  an  answer  together.— 

Nothing  more  has  come  of  Lohengrin  at  Weimar. 
The  singer  of  Ortrud  had  been  discharged  so  insultingly 
—in  Liszt's  absence — that  she  could  not  be  persuaded 
to  oblige.  In  general,  a  lot  of  intriguing  is  going  on 
against  Liszt  there,  and  Mr.  Genast  is  said  to  stand  at 
the  head  of  it.  I  am  also  afraid  things  will  not  last  much 
longer  there,  and  Liszt  will  get  sick  of  it.  It  is  impossible 
to  make  head  against  the  present  vileness  anywhere  or 
anyhow.  — 

If  you  care  to  send  me  another  pair  of  shirts,  please 
do  ;  I  shall  have  plenty  of  the  other  things  to  last  me. 
I  am  counting  the  days  already,  and  tell  myself  each 
morning,  Tomorrow  there'll  be  so-and-so  many  days  more. 
Judge  by  that,  how  I  am  looking  forward  to  home  and 
you.  But  I  still  keep  thinking  of  poor  Papchen  :  *  night 
after  night  I  have  dreamt  of  him,  and  always  so  touch - 
ingly  and  affectingly  (he  would  bite  at  my  finger  for  love) 
that  I  found  myself  crying  aloud  when  I  woke.  I  shall 
never  get  over  the  loss  of  the  dear  beastie  ;  it  was  too 
terrible,  our  having  to  lose  that  bet  !  ! — Ah,  I  have  to 
tear  myself  away  from  the  remembrance- — else  I  can't 
bear  up.— 

*  Their  parrot,  died  last  February  ;  see  Letter  22  to  Uhlig. — Tr. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  105 

Now,  just  you  keep  in  as  good  health  as  I  found  you 
the  last  times — and  we'll  soon  see  how  to  shape  our  life 
as  happily  as  possible.  Already  we  may  be  without  the 
least  anxiety  for  our  subsistence,  and  to  the  end  of  our 
lives  :  there  will  be  nothing  more  of  that  sort  to  disquiet 
US.  But  you  [plural,  clearly  including  Nette]  must  grant  me 

quiet  too  ;  take  me  as  I  am,  and  let  me  do  what  I  have 
joy  and  pleasure  in  ;  don't  tease  me  into  anything  I 
really  neither  will  nor  can  :  rest  assured,  on  the  other  hand, 
I  shall  always  be  doing  something  that  somehow  gives 
delight  to  others  and  satisfies  my  inner  self. — So,  if  we 
do  not  mutually  torment  each  other,  we  yet  may  lead  the 
finest  life  permitted  by  our  circumstances.— 

Now  farewell,  Mutzius  ! — Be  cheerful  and  retain  your 
good  temper.  I  shall  soon  be  with  you  altogether  again. 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

[Nov.  20/51,  Wagner  writes  alike  to  Liszt  and  Uhlig  that  a  "pro- 
vidential inheritance  in  the  Ritter  family  "  enables  him  to  live  in  future 
"for  nothing  but  artistic  creation,  untroubled  by  material  cares."  Our 
next  letter,  accordingly,  must  be  that  which  the  current  German  edition 
has  ranked  as  no.  "  38,"  for  it  manifestly  refers  to  the  first  quarterly 
instalment  of  tlic  Rittcrs1  definite  subsidy— continued,  in  the  event,  for 
fully  seven  years. —  7'rJ] 

46  a. 

[ALBISBRUXN,  Nov.  19  or  20,  1851.] 

Dear  little  one,  herewith  I  send  you  money  ;  go 
nicely  to  the  banker  with  it  and  get  it  changed,  so  that 
I  may  have  some  of  it  too.  It  amounts  to  350  gulden 
in  Reich  currency,  or  750  francs  (French).  I  almost 
think  you  had  better  get  it  cashed  in  French  money 
(five-franc  pieces),  as  we  are  certain  to  be  reckoning 
in  that  currency  ere  long  throughout  all  Switzerland. 
You  must  send  me  120  francs  of  it,  and  promptly,  that 


106  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

I  may  have  it  by  Saturday  and  pay  up  everything  here, 
otherwise  I  can't  get  home  on  Sunday  [Nov.  23]. 

I  received  your  last  letter  on  Monday,  just  as  I  had 
sealed  up  the  packet  with  mine  ;  I  couldn't  break  it 
open  again.  To-day,  however,  I  add  my  best  thanks  for 
your  declining  the  hare-supper.— 

I  am  feeling  well  !— Emilie  [Ritter]  isn't  here  yet, 
and  probably  will  not  arrive  till  after  my  departure.— 

Farewell  for  to-day,  my  most  charmante !  Soon  to 
take  you  by  your  good  cheek, 

Thy  lord  R.  W. 

47. 

MEIRINGEN,  15.  July  1852. 

Oh,  what  a  wicked  Wife  you  are  !  Just  to  snare 
another  letter  from  you,  I've  waited  a  whole  day  extra  here 
at  Meiringen,  since  I  thought  you  would  be  sure  to 
send  me  an  answer  here  to  my  letter  from  Interlaken. 
I  have  just  come  from  the  post,  and  the  person  who  hasn't 
written  is  yourself  !  I  reached  here  yesterday  afternoon, 
and  certainly  found  Uhlig's  letter  with  your  greeting 
[on  it]  ;  but  when  you  sent  that  off,  you  hadn't  received 
my  letter  from  Interlaken  yet,  and  so  I  waited  till  to-day. 
I  was  in  need  of  a  rest,  no  doubt,  as  I  had  inarched  hard 
Monday,  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  ;  still,  I  should  have 
been  on  the  road  again  to-day,  had  I  not  hoped  for  a 
letter  from  you.  Perhaps,  though,  you  were  simply  too 
late  to  catch  the  post  ;  so  I  shall  leave  orders  to  send 
letters  after  me.— 

My  journey  has  gone  off  very  well  until  now  :  fine 
weather  all  the  time,  saving  for  a  couple  of  brief  thunder- 
storms, which  were  only  interesting.  What  pleases  me 
most,  is  that  my  boots  are  behaving  themselves  ;  the  12 


ZURICH    PERIOD  107 

hours  on  the  last  did  much  good,  and  my  feet  are  in 
capital  order.  On  Monday  I  left  Interlaken  early  for 
Lauterbrunnen,  walked  up  the  Wengernalp  (where  one 
can  clutch  the  Jungfrau  with  one's  hands),  and  from 
there  across  the  Wengern-Scheideck  down  to  Grindelwald. 
Tuesday  I  climbed  the  Faulhorn  (8200  feet  high),  whence 
the  view  is  quite  terribly  sublime  :  I  stayed  the  night 
there  and  came  down  on  -Wednesday  over  the  Grand 
Scheideck,  past  the  Rosenlaui  glacier,  to  Meiringen. 

I  have  nothing  to  describe  to  you,  as  that  would  really 
give  you  no  idea,  but  I  have  been  planning  how  to  shew 
you  the  Bernese  Oberland  next  time,  from  this  side  or 
from  that. — It  will  be  my  first  complete  joy  to  conduct 
you,  proud  on  horseback,  through  these  parts  :  what  eyes 
you'll  make  ! — Tomorrow  morning  my  road  lies  along  the 
Haslithal  to  the  Grimsel  ;  the  night  will  be  passed  at  the 
Grimsel  hospice,  and  from  there  next  morning  via  the 
Aar  glacier  and  the  Sidelhorn  to  Obergesseln.  Thence  on 
Sunday  over  the  Gries  glacier  to  the  Formazza  valley, 
and  Monday  evening  I  shall  be  at  Domo  d'Ossola  in  Italy. 
From  there  I  shall  write  you  again.— 

Money  runs  away  fearfully  ;  this  Bernese  Oberland  is 
the  most  shamelessly  extortionate  hole  one  can  conceive. 
Each  day  I  have  to  change  another  louis  d'or,  and  saving 
or  economy  is  quite  out  of  the  question.  It  was  a  good 
thing  you  sent  me  Uhlig's  letter  :  I  had  to  write  immedi- 
ately thereon  to  Frankfort,  for  they  at  last  have  applied 
for  the  Tannhauser  score  in  hot  haste,  as  the  opera  is  to 
come  out  there  the  beginning  of  autumn.  You  may 
imagine  how  I  insisted  on  the  honorarium  being  sent 
at  once  ;  I  expect  you  will  be  receiving  it  soon. — See, 
the  louis  d'ors  will  be  so  pouring  upon  us  ere  long,  we 
shan't  know  what  to  do  with  them.  Only  let  me  know 


io8  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

directly  money  arrives,  that  I  may  reel  off  a  plan  where 
you're  to  meet  me  and  share  a  little  of  my  beautiful  trip 
after  all.  I'm  truly  looking  forward  heartily  to  being 
picked  up  by  you  somewhere — preferably  at  Lugano.  — 

So,  if  you  write  or  have  letters  to  send  me  to-day, 
address 

Monsieur 

IV.  R.    Wagner 

a  Lugano 

Paste  restante.  {Canton  Ticino) 

Farewell,  good  old  Muzius  !  Salute  our  friends,  and 
above  all  Peps,  since  of  all  male  creatures  he  is  my  best 
friend.  Adieu  ! 

Your  husband  with  the  blistered 

nose. 

[70  Uhtig,  Aug.  3,  '52  .-  "  I  got  Minna  to  join  me  at  Lugano.  Then 
with  her  the  Lago  Maggiore  again  ;  via  Domo  d'Ossola,  Wallis,  Martigny, 
Chamounix,  Mcr  de  Glace  etc.,  to  Geneva.  From  here  we  go  home  by 
Lausanne." — TV.] 

48. 

CHUR,  15.  July  1853. 

DEAR  MINEL, 

I  am  stranded  at  Chur,  since  the  only  diligence 
to  St  Moritz  was  already  booked  up,  and  I  have  2  nights 
and  a  day  to  winter  here.  Grey  it  is,  and  pouring  in 
torrents  ! — So  I'm  writing  letters,  to  Liszt  etc.,  and  want 
to  send  you  my  greeting  also,  to  tell  you,  if  you  don't  feel 
very  cheerful  now,  I'm  no  better  off  myself. — Otherwise  I 
have  nothing  to  report,  as  nothing  else  has  happened  to 
me.  En  route  I  met  a  good  many  people  who  also  had 
witnessed  the  torch-lighting.* 

*  An  elaborate  serenade,  etc.,  in  front  of  his  windows  at  Zurich, 
July  13;  see  Life  of  R.  Wagner,  iii.  117,  150.  The  "Grey"  in  sentence 
two  is  an  allusion,  of  course,  to  Canton  Graubunden. — Tr. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  109 

Stay,  I  can  also  send  off  from  here  my  letter  to  the 
Ollmiitz  theatre-director.  The  second  letter  I  obtained 
from  the  post,  you  see,  was  from  the  director  at  Ollmiitz 
(Austria),  who  wants  to  have  my  Tannhauser,  remarkably 
enough  !  — Do  write  me  at  once  to  ' '  St.  Moritz,  Canton 
Graubiuidcn"  how  you  are  getting  on,  and  how  the  rest 
is  suiting  you,  what  Peps  is  doing,  and  everything 
concerning  you.  I  feel  sure  you  will  be  all  right  now, 
for  you  badly  required  a  rest  ;  it  is  also  quite  time  that 
you  followed  R[ahn]'s  orders  precisely  ;  please  do,  and  no 
subterfuge.  But  Peps  must  often  have  a  bath  ;  make 
good  use  of  the  tub  yourself,  too,  and  don't  go  setting 
about  something  directly  after.  Also  write  me  immediately 
the  Wiesbaden  money  arrives  ;  if  it  dawdles  much  longer, 
I  shall  have  to  remind  them  in  earnest.  Let  me  know, 
in  fact,  whenever  money  comes  ;  but  send  on  at  once  to 
St  Moritz  all  letters  enclosed  with  the  money,  that  I  may 
answer  them  prettily.  So,  so,  so,  so  !— 

Now,  Mietzel,  farewell.  Be  content  for  to-day  with 
these  trumpery  lines,  for  my  humour  isn't  up  to  much  ! 
We  [Henvegh  and  self]  got  here  yesterday  at  9,  and  had  to 
trot  around  a  whole  hour  in  ghastly  rain  before  we  found 
shelter,  the  inns  were  so  full  ;  we  were  lucky  to  get 
quarters  at  last  in  the  ' '  Steinbock  ' '  ;  also,  I  had  a  fairly 
good  night's  sleep.  And  you  ? — Now,  write  soon,  salute 
our  friends,  and  in  particular  thank  all  the  torchists  ! 

Adieu,  with  the  whole  heart's  greetings  of  thy 

frantically  faithful 

Husband 

and  father  of  Peps,  the  high-betorched  famous 
Composer,  Poet  and  Star-reader, 

R. 


no  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

49. 

ST.  MORITZ,  12.  July  1853. 

Best  thanks,  dear  Minna,  for  your  deliveries.  If  you 
have  come  by  yellow  paper,  it  isn't  my  fault  ;  with  the 
yellow  there  also  lay  pink  and  white.  Make  a  note  of  that, 
and  don't  scare  me  another  time.— 

Scarcely  had  I  proposed  to  devote  this  morning  to  a 
gossip  with  you,  when  Dr.  Obrist  came  into  my  room  and 
prevented  me  ;  so  I  probably  shall  bring  but  little  off  on 
paper  before  meal-time. 

We  have  fine  clear  weather  all  the  time,  up  here  ; 
only,  it  is  never  really  warm,  and  one  has  to  keep  to 
one's  winter  clothing.  A  severe  cold  is  clinging  to  me, 
and  I  do  not  expect  to  get  rid  of  it  here.  To-day's  bath, 
however,  had  a  very  good  effect  on  me  again,  and  I  can 
quite  imagine  why  the  Doctor  ordered  me  this  cure  ; 
decidedly  my  nerves  are  getting  stronger. 

For  yourself,  just  follow  R.'s  advice  and  go  to  Baden 
[Canton  Aargau]  for  a  week.  If  it  would  afford  you 
amusement,  I  should  much  like  you  to  fetch  me  from 
here  at  the  end  of  my  cure,  and  perhaps  stay  on  with  me 
another  week  ;  then  I  could  retrace  with  you  the  best 
excursions  in  these  highlands,  which  indeed  are  very 
interesting.  In  no  event,  however,  could  I  have  expected 
you  to  stay  up  here  the  whole  time  without  taking  the  cure 
yourself,  for  it  really  is  an  uninviting  hovel,  with  the 
greatest  lack  of  comfort  in  every  arrangement,  and  most 
monotonous.  I  shall  also  have  to  be  somewhat  more 
sparing  with  excursions  now,  as  during  the  cure  they  are 
very  fatiguing,  and  especially  this  driving  in  carts  (with- 
out springs)  on  the  stony  by-roads  plays  havoc  with  my 
nerves  ;  I  believe  you  couldn't  stand  it  long,  either,  for 
the  shaking  is  awful. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  in 

All  the  same,  I  took  a  very  fine  drive  with  Herwegh 
yesterday  to  Chiavenna,  over  the  Maloja  pass,  where  we 
were  met  in  the  valley  for  the  first  time  again  by  a  warm 
southerly  breeze,  so  that  it  was  with  difficulty  one  could 
determine  to  return  to  this  cold  height.  In  bad  weather 
it  must  be  dreadful  here  ! — 

I  have  heard  nothing  of  Franck  ;  but  Liszt  wrote  me 
from  Weimar  again  yesterday  :  he  had  had  a  talk  with 
Johanna  at  Frankfort  ;  she  meant  to  return  there  in  a 
fortnight  for  a  second  starring,  and  then  to  sing  in 
Tannhauser  as  well  ;  she  further  promised  Liszt  to  sing 
"  Ortrtid  "  at  Weimar  next  winter  (what  do  you  say  to 
that  ?).  Liszt  seems  to  have  much  shamed  both  herself 
and  her  parents.  He  was  unable  to  see  the  Lohengrin 
at  Wiesbaden  ;  a  lady  singer  was  ill. — 

You  certainly  must  so  arrange  your  trip  to  Germany 
as  to  take  the  Music-festival  at  Carlsruhe  (the  2Oth  Sept- 
ember) on  your  way  back,  when  you  can  call  on  the 
Devrients  also. 

When  Bauer  delivers  the  music,  just  put  it  aside  for 
the  present  :  but  tell  him  to  finish  off  everything  from 
Lohengrin  at  once  ;  for  that  part  is  then  to  go  to 
Carlsruhe.  — 

My  letter  to  the  new  Grand  Duke  of  Weimar  was 
much  to  Liszt's  liking.— 

Now  write  me  exactly  when  you're  going  to  Baden, 
from  which  day  to  which  day,  that  I  may  write  you 
thither.  As  for  any  money-letters  in  the  meantime, 
you  must  arrange  for  them  to  remain  at  the  post  till 
you're  back  again.— 

But  when  is  your  Mathilde  [Schiffner]  coming?  Of 
a  sudden  one  hears  nothing  more  of  her  whatever  ! — 
Take  good  care  of  Peps  ;  I  had  a  horrible  dream  the  other 


RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

night  :  you  brought  me  Peps  all  shaven  and  smothered 
with  flowers,  which  so  disgusted  me  that  I  tore  them  all 
off.  Couldn't  you  manage  to  find  the  good  fellow  a 
match  one  could  keep  a  sharp  eye  on,  and  thus  get  a 
legitimate  heir  to  the  memory  of  our  old  companion? 
Good  L,ord,  when  one  is  growing  old,  bereavements  come 
harder  and  harder  !  — 

Now  take  care  of  your  health,  and  amuse  yourself  to 
the  best  of  your  ability.  Be  thankful,  for  that  matter, 
you  aren't  here  too  ;  to  tell  the  truth — without  the 
cure — you'd  have  had  a  wretched  life  of  it.  But  if  you 
care  to,  as  said,  come  and  fetch  me  ;  it  would  greatly 
delight  me  !— 

Farewell  for  to-day,   then,   old  Muzius  !     Write  nice 

and  precisely  [or  punctually— pilnktlich,  see  next  page]  and  much  ; 

you  know  how  glad  I  am  to  get  your  letters  !  Farewell, 
greet  Peps,  and  think  fondly  of 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

They're  actually  hunting  a  bear  now,  who  had 
devoured  6  sheep — not  at  all  far  from  here — only  the 
day  before  yesterday. 


50. 

ST.  MORITZ 

Tuesday,  26.  July  1853,  5.30  A.M. 

I  must  be  at  the  spring  in  half  an  hour  ;  but  since  you 
are  such  a  good  woman,  I  have  risen  thus  early,  washed, 
gargled  and  hair-dressed  already,  to  present  myself  to  you 
as  charmingly  as  possible  while  you  doubtless  are  lapped 
in  soft  slumber.  For  this  letter  will  go  off  within  an 
hour.- 


ZURICH    PERIOD  113 

First  of  all- — you  everlastingly  mistrustful  spouse  !— 
I  must  dissipate  a  few  misunderstandings. 

1.  The  landlord  of  my  hotel  is  named  "  Biedermann  " 
— consequently  I  am  both  lodging  at  the  "Hotel  Faller," 

and  at  "  Biedermann' s." 

2.  The   reason    I'm   so   exact    or    anxious   about    the 
expected  money-letters — as  I  wrote  you  before  from  Chur 

—is  that  with  every  remittance  of  money  I  also  expect  a 
letter,  which  I  generally  have  to  answer  at  once,  or  on 
account  of  which  I  must  send  Fischer  an  order  forthwith. 
Understand?  I'm  a  "miser"? — O  you  perverse  piece 
of  goods  !— 

3.  I   wished   you   improvement   in    letter-writing:   by 
which — after  the  whole  sense  of  my  lines — I  meant  that 
you  should  write,  in  general,  sooner  and  more  punctually. 
How  could   I  be  rinding  fault  with  your  style,  when  you 
had  not  yet  written  me  at  all  ? 

From  the  above — and  those  are  merely  trifles — you 
see  how  odd  a  look  your  vaunted  love  must  wear.  You 
naughty  wife  haven't  the  very  smallest  scrap  of  trust,  but 
behind  each  step,  each  word,  you  spy  out  something 
which  doesn't  exist  at  all,  and  consequently  keep  imbuing 
me  with  the  wish  that  dear  God  may  mend  you  !  What 
you  wrote  me  about  Herwegh,  too,  all  reeks  of  reproof 
and  distrust, — for  which  reason  also,  I  shall  leave  that 
stuff  entirely  unanswered  :  the  only  way  !  You  foolish 
women,  can't  you  comprehend,  then,  that  your  greatest 
pride  consists  in  this  :  that  your  husbands,  out  of  fullest 
unrestraint  and  freedom,  always  return  to  your  side  in  the 
end  ?  Ah,  if  you  only  knew  the  meaning  of  true  fidelity 
in  love,  i.e.  duration  !— 

But  we'll  not  philosophise  so  early  in  the  morning, 
and   to   myself  the  occasion  really  seems   too  trifling   for 
VOL.   i  8 


ii4  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

such  earnest  :  regarded  closely,  it  all  was  surely  nothing 
on  your  side  but  chaff. — 

Very  good  :  you  will  have  received  another  letter 
from  me  since  ;  to  that  I  still  await  an  answer,  particu- 
larly as  to  your  still  caring  to  come  and  fetch  me  ?  In 
that  letter  of  mine,  to  be  sure,  you  will  have  missed  all 
talk  of  ' '  huge  affection  "  or  "  the  loveliest  flower  "  ;  * 
but  on  the  other  hand  you  no  doubt  will  have  recognised 
that  the  wish  to  have  you  with  me  here  breathes  more 
true  desire  and  heartfelt  love  than  any  mere  rhetorical 
assurance,  for  which,  like  every  written  phrase,  I  once 
for  all  no  longer  care  : — I  prefer  to  do,  to  deal  !— 

Halt  !  it  is  getting  too  late  now,  and  my  half  an  hour 
is  nearly  up.  So,  merely  a  few  memoranda.  —  But  dear 
child,  if  you  require  the  money,  just  send  the  Wiesbaden 
treasure-slip  to  Hug's  at  once,  and  get  it  cashed  ;  what 
the  deuce  makes  you  imagine  you  must  pickle  money  for 
me  when  you're  needing  it  yourself?  No,  please  don't 
fleer  :  more  money  is  sure  to  come  in  soon  ;  but  for  the 
present  you'll  manage  with  that. — Is  Mathilde  going  to 
Baden  too  ?  Give  her  my  kindest  regards  ;  her  faithful 
staunch  attachment  rejoices  me.  As  I  presume  you  have 
somewhat  postponed  your  starting  now,  I  address  this 
letter  still  to  Zurich  :  in  any  event  it  will  reach  you.— 

The  day  before  yesterday  we  walked  a  distance  of  4 
miles  on  one  of  the  Rosetch  glaciers  :  terrible  scrambling 
over  crevasses  !  Here  and  there  Herwegh  often  declared 
he  couldn't  get  across,  and  I  had  to  return  each  time  and 
shew  him  how.  (Whatever  you  do,  don't  tell  his  wife  !) 
It  was  a  very  fatiguing  excursion  :  n  hours  of  constant 


*  Apparently  expressions  of  Hervvegh's  to  his  wife,  who  had  only 
recently  rejoined  him  after  a  very  long  separation;  cf.  Life  iv,  151-3. 
— Tr. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  115 

scrambling  and  clambering  ;  but  I  have  never  experi- 
enced anything  so  grand,  never  before  had  I  been  in  the 
very  heart  of  the  sublimest  World  of  Ice  !— 

I  thank  you  heartily  for  the  vegetables,  especially 
the  parsnips,  my  favourite  dish  ;  it  was  very  nice  of  you. 
Unfortunately  I  cannot  eat  the  biscuits,  they  have  such 
a  horrid  taste  of  rank  butter  as  I  never  had  known  in 
a  biscuit  before  :  I  must  leave  them  alone.  Of  course 
you  couldn't  help  it.— 

Wcsendonck  has  written  me  :  he  starts  for  America  on 
the  27th.  His  wife  is  expecting  a  letter  from  you.— 

A  thousand  remembrances  to  Pepsel,  the  good,  alto- 
gether good  beast  !  Na,  what  is  that  beside  the  out-and- 
out  good  Wife  ?  !  Words  utterly  fail  me  !  !  !— 

Farewell,  dear  Minna  ;  the  goblet  tinks,  I  must  be 
off.  Let's  hope  it  will  taste  all  right  ;  the  first  I  shall 
drink  to  your  health  !  Farewell,  and  let  me  hear  again 
soon. 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

51. 

ST.  MORITZ,  28.  July  1853. 

Dear  Mietzel,  I  cannot  write  you  much  to-day,  feeling 
fairly  done  up  :  in  the  second  week  of  the  cure  here  it's 
said  to  go  like  that  with  everybody.  Tomorrow  will  be 
the  end  of  half  the  cure-time  ;  Sunday  fortnight  I  travel 
back. 

Your  letter  might  have  made  me  very  sad,  had  I  not 
noticed  that  your  unwellness  itself  makes  you  strongly 
inclined  to  a  melancholy  temperament  now.  If  R.  dis- 
played anxiety,  it  certainly  was  with  the  good  intention 
of  spurring  you — who  are  a  very  bad  patient — to  a  strict 


n6  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

observance  of  his  orders.  By  all  means  you  need  careful 
handling  of  your  health  ;  your  blood  is  greatly  out  of 
order,  and  if  you  do  not  take  care  of  yourself,  you  may 
certainly  look  out — in  your  old  age — for  the  sufferings 
of  your  mother  :  you  know  her  asthmatic  condition.  It 
also  is  quite  understandable  that  poor  Jette's  fate  should 
be  haunting  you  now  ;  but  the  bare  idea  of  your  having 
any  tendency  to  consumption  is  really  nothing  but  a 
figment  of  your  fancy.  Remember  myself  and  my  throat 
troubles  of  18  years  back  !  No,  in  that  regard  my  mind 
is  quite  at  ease  about  you  ;  but  from  this  time  forth,  now 
that  you  have  grown  alarmed  yourself,  it's  clear  enough 
that  you  must  start  another  mode  of  life.  You  ought  to, 
and  must  lead  a  life  of  ease  and  comfort  now  :  it  must  be 
your  entertainment  to  dress  as  slowly  and  nicely  as  you 
please  of  a  morning,  and  you  shall  presently  receive  from 
me  a  cosy  pretty  negligee  ;  let  your  occupation  be  a  little 
embroidery,  and  above  all,  pleasant  reading,  receiving 
callers,  dressing  at  leisure  for  out-of-doors,  paying  calls, 
and  so  forth.  In  time  I  shall  buy  a  smart  little  carriage, 
and  leave  it  at  a  coachman's  with  whom  I'll  strike  a 
bargain  for  the  horse  he  is  to  place  at  my  disposal  ;  then 
I  shall  take  you  for  nice  afternoon  drives.  In  short,  you 
must  thoroughly  lead  the  life  of  a  fine  lady  now  ;  you're 
not  to  bother  about  housekeeping  an  atom  more  than 
may  amuse  you  :  it's  the  only  way  for  you  to  get  on 
the  high  road  to  the  manner  of  living  you  need.  What 
money  can  do  towards  it,  will  soon  be  seen  to  ;  believe 
me,  as  things  stand  now,  my  future  may  become  extra- 
ordinarily brilliant,  and  there  is  no  telling  how  far  it 
may  lead  when  Germany  is  run  through  and  London 
and  Paris  are  laid  under  tribute,  which  will  then  depend 
on  no  one  but  myself. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  117 

Even  for  next  winter  the  prospects  are  very  auspicious. 
Hamburg  has  signed  for  50  louis  d'or  ;  I  am  receiving  a 
note  for  the  end  of  November.  Leipzig  has  written  about 
Lohengrin  ;  I  had  grounds  for  not  demanding  over  20 
louis  d'or.  Darmstadt,  Carlsruhe,  Hanover,  Brunswick, 
have  all  applied  already  ;  Cologne,  Magdeburg,  Reval, 
Olmiitz,  even  Ballenstedt,  are  asking  for  Tannhauser.  In 
brief,  it's  certain  that  the  whole  of  Germany  must  walk 
into  our  pocket  soon.  Berlin  also  (at  Kroll's)  is  a  certainty 
now,  and  that  is  sure  to  bring  me  in  a  couple  of  thousand 
francs.  — 

So  :  you  must  and  shall  become  a  fine  lady  :  to  please 
me,  you  must  wear  nothing  but  velvet,  silk  or  satin,  yet 
not  so  as  to  interfere  with  your  comfort.  For — if  any 
woman  has  such  things,  you  deserve  them  too  :  that's 
what  I  shall  tell  all  who  may  envy  or  sniff  at  you  ! — 

Undoubtedly,  Herwegh  has  a  number  of  coloured 
cravats  ;  but  for  all  that,  he  doesn't  seem  bent  upon  con- 
quests. He  sticks  to  his  room  and  his  muzzing  all  day  ; 
when  he  comes  out  of  it,  he  barely  mumbles.  On  the 
contrary,  it  is  /  who  have  to  keep  a  sharp  look-out  here  ; 
for  the  fair  local  world  is  all  setting  its  cap  at  me,  the 
famous  betorched  composer.  Luckily  I  know  no  one,  and 
no  one  attracts  me  to  do  so. — This  morning  we  had  rain 
for  the  first  time  ;  but  it  has  ceased  already.  My  former 
room  was  very  noisily  placed  ;  repeatedly  I  could  not  sleep. 
To-day  I've  removed  to  a  quieter  room  in  the  first  storey. 

Many  thanks  for  the  fresh  consignment,  though  you 
may  make  a  pause  until  I  ask  for  anything  again  ;  the 
food  here  has  somewhat  improved  now.  I  was  the  only 
one  to  open  his  mouth  ;  no  Switzer  would  ever  dare  to, 
and  Herwegh  still  less. — Well,  15  days  more  and  there's 
an  end  to  it  ! — 


n8  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

You  might  get  Mathilde,  please,  to  tell  them  at  the 
Post  to  send  my  money-letters  also  here — till  further 
orders  ;  they  may  always  contain  an  enquiry  I  shouldn't 
like  to  leave  unanswered  a  whole  week,  that  is  to  say,  for 
the  time  you're  at  Baden. — Upon  your  return,  order  the 
money-letters  to  be  delivered  to  you  as  before.  Don't 
misunderstand  me  ! — Apart  from  business  letters,  I  answer 
none  now  ;  I  really  have  to  save  myself  during  the  cure. 
See,  even  this  letter  to  yourself  has  grown  too  long  ;  that 
exertion,  though,  is  not  to  count,  I  have  made  it  so 
gladly. — 

Now,  my  good  Minna,  farewell,  hold  your  head  up  ; 
think  of  the  comfortablest  life  you  can  possibly  conceive, 
of  the  little  carriage — na  !  and — I  say  no  more  !  You'll 
be  bound  to  put  up  with  me  a  while  longer  !  Adieu  ; 
greet  Peps  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

Have  you  written  to  the  Wesendonck  yet  ?  He  wrote 
me  that  they  were  going  to  Wiesbaden  on  the  2ist  for 
Lohengrin  :  the  performance  took  place,  I've  received  a 
playbill  and  a  criticism  :  Frau  Moritz  sang  the  Elsa 
very  well. 

Saturday,  5  A.M.  [~3oth]. 

See,  Mienel,  I  have  to  re-open  this  and  add  to  it.  Quite 
a  pile  of  letters  came  last  evening  with  all  sorts  of  tidings, 
foolish  and  good.  i.,  from  yourself,  with  the  Wiesbaden 
Lohengrin  snuff-box,  which  amused  me  vastly.  You  good 
Uetli-ascender,  you  !  Otherwise  I've  nothing  much  to 
answer  you,  except  that  I  am  doing  tolerably.  The  doctor 
may  well  talk  of  warm  douches  ;  good  Lord,  they  are 
simple  enough  with  their  bath  here,  and  douches  don't 


ZURICH    PERIOD  119 

exist  ! — 2.,  from  Liszt  an  uncommonly  cheerful,  kind  and 
splendid  letter  :  the  Grand  Duke  thought  very  highly  of 
my  letter  to  him  :  Liszt  has  had  to  tell  the  Princess  of 
Prussia  a  lot  about  me.  The  music  from  Bauer  can  wait 
till  I  return. — 3.,  From  Karl. — 4.,  The  enclosed  letter  to 
yourself,  the  address  of  which  deceived  me  ;  when  I  saw 
from  whom  it  was,  I  read  it  through.  You  can  scarcely 
make  any  other  reply  to  the  crazy  young  lady,  than  that 
the  Carlsruhe  Music-festival  is  the  2oth  Sept.,  and  at  it 
things  from  Tannh.  and  Lohengrin  will  be  performed  ; 
beyond  that  you  know  nothing.  — Now  I  must  be  off  to 
the  spring.  Farewell,  bathe  prettily,  and  get  quite  well. 
Adieu,  Mienel  ! 

Thy 
R. 

52. 

^th  August  1853. 

Dear  Mietz,  I  leave  here  Tuesday  the  Qth,  and — as  I 
see  you  cannot  come  half-way — I  shall  be  with  you  at 
Zurich  Wednesday  evening. — 

Nobody  takes  a  cure  here  for  more  than  3  weeks,  and 
all  were  astonished  at  my  having  been  ordered  4.  The 
water  is  extraordinarily  powerful  ;  I've  been  stopped  up 
for  several  days,  and  my  stomach  feels  bad.  Moreover, 
the  place  itself  is  beginning  to  be  unendurable  to  me,  the 
arrangements  are  too  disgraceful  ;  for  want  of  convenience, 
etc. ,  a  deal  of  what  the  Doctor  ordered  me  I  cannot  follow 
out  at  all.  In  short,  it's  high  time  I  thought  of  turning 
home.  The  usual  3  weeks'  cure  expires  tomorrow  ;  I  am 
throwing  in  a  couple  of  days,  but  Tuesday  I  depart — as 
said — and  hope  to  find  you  better  on  Wednesday  evening 
than  you  write  me  you  unfortunately  are  at  present.  My 


120  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

last  letter  I  addressed  to  Zurich  ;  I  hope  it  was  sent  after 
you.  So  nothing  is  to  come  of  the  rendezvous  at  Chur 
etc.  proposed  therein  ;  perhaps  R.  is  right.  We'll  soon 
replace  it  by  some  pleasant  excursion  or  other,  that  Mathilde 
also  may  still  get  a  little  to  see. 

What  more  should  I  write  you,  seeing  that  I  soon 
shall  be  able  to  talk  with  you  ?  Besides,  I've  had  no 
more  news  at  all  of  late  ;  I  know  just  nothing,  excepting 
that  it's  odious  here  when  one  makes  no  excursions,  and 
those  refuse  to  agree  with  the  cure. 

Write  me  another  once,  that  you  have  received  this 
letter,  and  address  to    Chur,   paste  restante ;    thus  I  shall 
find  it  waiting  Tuesday  evening.      Farewell,  old  Mietzel  ! 
Give  me  a  good  welcome.      Adieu  ;   shake  Peps' s  paw.— 
Adieu,  auf  Wiedersehen  Wednesday  !— 

Thy 

RRRrrrr  ! 

I  don't  require  money. 

\_A  fortnight  after  his  return  to  Zurich,  Wagner  starts  on  a  long-pro- 
jected trip  to  Northern  Italy ,  in  qiiest  of  inspiration  for  the  music  of  his 
''  Ring." — Tr.~\ 

53. 

TURIN,  30.  August  1853. 
DEAR    MlENEL, 

Alack,  I  found  no  letter  from  you  here  to-day  ; 
but  the  evening  post  comes  in  at  7,  when  something 
perhaps  will  turn  up. — Since  I  wrote  and  telegraphed  you 
last,  I  have  arrived  here,  under  many  difficulties.  Poor 
thanks  I  owe  the  Herweghs  for  offering  to  book  me  a  seat 
from  Geneva  to  Turin,  which  ended  in  smoke  :  the  best 
time  being  lost,  at  Geneva  I  could  only  get  a  (villainous] 
seat  as  far  as  Chambery,  a  third  of  the  distance  ;  whereas 
at  Chambery  there  came  a  sudden  stop  to  all  things,  every 


ZURICH    PERIOD  121 

place  in  every  diligence  and  other  coach  being  already 
taken  till  the  4th  of  September.  So  nothing  remained 
but  to  hire  a  hackney  flyman  for  3  days,  or  take  extra-post 
with  strangers.  I  chose  the  latter,  because  two  other 
travellers  were  in  the  same  predicament :  a  very  dear 
carriage  had  to  be  taken  for  the  whole  distance  to  Turin  ; 
but  unluckily  there  was  such  a  mass  of  gentry's  private 
coaches  also  going  extra-post,  that  the  supply  of  horses 
gave  out,  and  at  last  our  only  way  of  getting  forward  was 
by  bribing  the  postilions. — It  was  a  venturesome  journey 
on  the  Mont  Cents  by  night  ;  yet  everything  went 
right,  and,  with  fine  weather  the  whole  time,  I  reached 
Turi)i  yesterday  afternoon. 

This  is  a  handsome,  big,  and  elegant  new  city,  quite 
a  la  Paris ;  but  naturally  that  isn't  what  I'm  seeking, 
and  I  shall  not  remain  here  long  ;  I  merely  want  to  rest  a 
bit,  and  make  an  excursion  to  the  environs,  which  must  be 
very  beautiful.  Last  evening  I  made  straight  for  a  small 
theatre  (there  are  a  number  of  theatres  here),  where  I 
heard  a  silly  comic  opera,  which — wretched  as  it  was — 
was  quite  excellently  sung  and  acted  by  the  company.  Not 
until  12  did  I  get  to  bed  after  it,  but  slept  very  well  (in  a 
bed  again  at  last)  and  did  not  arise  till  9  this  morning.— 

I  should  not  have  written  you  as  yet,  before  having  a 
letter  from  you  to  answer,  if  I  hadn't  wanted  to  tell  you 
not  to  address  to  Turin  any  moie,  but  to 

Mr.  R.  W. 

a  Genes 
poste  restante  :  (Royaume  de  Sardaigne]. 

(Genes,  you  see,  is  the  French  for  Gcnua — which  in 
Italian,  again,  is  called  Genova  ;  but  I'm  afraid  Geneva 


122  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

might  be  read  Geneve  (Genf),  which  would  cause 
confusion.) 

Yes,  it  is  the  Mediterranean  to  which  I'm  chiefly 
looking  forward,  and  hope  to  reach  the  ist  September 
(Thursday). 

Good  God,  I  can  write  you  next  to  nothing  about 
yourself,  as  it's  so  long  since  I've  had  any  news  from 
you  ;  and  then  the  post  for  Switzerland  goes  out  at  5, 
and — even  if  I  do  get  a  letter  from  you  to-day — that  will 
not  be  till  7.  So  I  must  save  any  further  remarks  for 
tomorrow,  when  I  hope  to  have  something  quite  friendly 
and  good  to  reply  to. 

So  farewell  for  to-day,  good  old  Minna.  Be  quite 
cheerful  and  calm — and  you'll  give  me  the  greatest  of 
pleasure.  If  Mathilde  is  with  you  still,  my  kind  regards 
to  her  ! 

Adieu,  shake  Peps  by  the  paw, 

Thy 

wholly  good 

RICHARD. 
Turin, 

at  the  Hotel  de  I*1  Europe,  on  a  splendid 
square,  opposite  the  Royal  Palace. 

54. 

GENOA,  \st  September  1853. 

Ah,  Mienel,  Mienel,  never  have  I  seen  anything  like 
this  Genoa  !  It  is  something  indescribably  lovely, 
majestic  and  original  ;  Paris  and  London  shrink  into 
dreary,  formless  heaps  of  streets  and  houses,  beside  this 
godlike  city  ! — Naturally  I  shouldn't  know  where  or  how 
to  begin,  to  describe  the  impression  all  this  has  made 
upon  me,  and  goes  on  making  ;  I  have  laughed  like  a 


ZURICH    PERIOD  123 

child,  and  could  scarcely  conceal  my  delight ! — Instead  of 
attempting  an  impossible  and  useless  description,  I  will 
merely  give  you  an  account  of  my  journey.— 

After  sight-seeing  enough  in  Turin  and  its  outskirts 
the  day  before  yesterday — when  I  couldn't  help  admiring 
the  city's  fine  position — I  determined  to  quit  that  other- 
wise most  wearisome  den  of  a  capital  and  get  to  Genoa 
a  day  the  sooner.  I  had  already  received  your  nice  kind 
money-letter  ;  it  gave  me  great  joy,  and  I  thank  you  for 
it  most  heartily— especially  for  your  being  so  ' '  lazy  ' '  as 
you  write  me. — At  Turin  I  had  further  seen  the  "  Barber 
of  Seville,"  which  amused  me  much.  So  I  came  on 
yesterday  to  Genoa  (the  longest  stretch  by  rail),  where  I 
arrived  after  6  in  the  afternoon  and  promptly  took  a  room 
at  an  hotel,  from  which  I  have  the  harbour  and  sea 
directly  in  front  of  me.  The  hotel  itself  really  consists 
of  two  palaces,  the  Grimaldi  and  Fiesco,  which  have  been 
turned  into  an  inn  now.  I  am  lodging  about  6  storeys 
high,  because  one  has  the  finest  view  there  ;  flights  of 
marble  stairs  the  whole  way  up  ;  all  the  floors  of  mosaic, 
etc.,  unheard  of  antique  splendour  everywhere  !  Last 
evening  I  got  myself  led  round  a  bit  by  Signor  Raphael 
(that's  the  name  of  my  guide)  ;  L,ord,  how  astounded  I 
was  at  these  palaces,  often  touching  each  other,  all  beau- 
tiful, lofty,  superb.  Their  former  owners,  the  proud, 
brave  patricians  of  Genoa,  of  course  are  all  extinct  or  poor 
now,  and  the  palaces  are  mostly  let  or  sold  for  vulgar  use. 
Thus,  on  the  first  floor  of  the  Palais  Brignole  there  was 
a  silk-warehouse  ;  in  the  parterre  and  courtyard  (with 
garden),  on  the  other  hand,  a  cafe*.  There  I  ate  an  ice, 
drank  coffee,  and  smoked  a  cigar  ;  a  divine  night,  under 
oleander  trees  tall  as  a  house  : — I  could  almost  have  expired 
for  bliss — I  confess — and  to  make  you  the  choicest  gift 


124  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

that  /  can  think  of  for  your  birthday,  this  day  I  promise 
you  to  take  a  trip  to  Genoa  with  you  next  spring  :  a 
treat,  good  creature,  you  will  have  to  share  !  ! — A  heavenly 
slumbrousness  came  over  me  at  last  in  this  divine  air 
which  laps  one's  limbs  so  soothingly,  and  almost  seems  to 
waft  one.  I  threw  the  shutters  open  this  morning  :  there 
lay  the  harbour,  city,  and  the  sea  again,  all  steeped  in 
sunshine  ;  the  sea  as  blue  for  leagues  as  our  Swiss  lakes, 
all  swarming  with  ships,  masts  and  sails.  With  my 
famous  double  spy-glasses  I  have  just  followed  a  big  ship 
from  farthest  distance  right  into  the  harbour,  and  watched 
her  pick  up  the  pilot.  Na,  you  should  be  spying  here  !  ! 

Not  a  drop  of  rain  has  fallen  anywhere  around  for  a 
couple  of  months :  terrible  dust  on  the  country  roads. 
For  all  that,  the  air  is  by  no  means  too  hot — it  has 
nothing  stabbing  or  oppressive  ;  one  goes  about  half 
undressed,  but  feels  uncommonly  well  and  comfortably 
brisk  with  it  all.  It's  a  proper  human  breed  here  :  one 
might  give  the  Stumme  von  Portici  straight  off  with  the 
men  in  the  harbour  ;  almost  naked,  tall  and  slender, 
brown  as  Africans,  and  all  with  very  fine  dark,  passionate 
and  sentimental  eyes.  The  feminine  type  loses  in  com- 
parison ;  they  all  go  about  with  white  veils  over  the  head 
and  at  the  side.  Perhaps  I  shall  present  letters  [of  intro- 
duction] tomorrow  ;  I  didn't  at  Turin.  I  have  had  some 
strange  adventures  :  at  Turin  I  met  Tlialberg ;  in  the 
train  yesterday  I  got  into  close  acquaintance  with  the 
Russian  Ambassador  at  Rome,  and  his  wife,  whom  I  very 
proudly  informed  I  was  a  political  outlaw  and  couldn't  go 
to  Rome.  At  last  they  found  out  who  I  was,  however, 
and  adhered  to  their  invitation  to  Rome. 

Now,    I   almost  think   this  letter  ought  to  reach  you 
exactly  on  your  birthday  ;    besides  the   other  congratula- 


ZURICH    PERIOD  125 

tions  I'm  sending  you,  I  therefore  also  wish  you  health 
and  happiness  from  my  whole  full  heart  herewith.  For 
sure,  the  whole  fifth  of  September  shall  be  devoted  by  me 
to  your  memory  ;  to  your  health  alone  will  I  eat,  drink, 
walk,  look,  and  taste  the  air.  I  expect  to  keep  it  in 
Genoa,  which  I  shall  make  my  head-quarters,  in  fact,  for 
the  next  fortnight  ;  my  chief  excursion,  certainly,  will  be 
to  Spezia,  where  1  may  stay  awhile  perhaps,  but  I  want 
all  letters  sent  me  here.  So  please  continue,  dear  Mienel, 
to  send  to  the  address  last  given  you  : 

a  Genes 

(Royaume  dc  Sardaigne] 

I   left  orders   in   Turin    to  have  letters  sent  after  me 
hither. 

—Just  you  be  quite  well  and  cheerful  for  your  birth- 
day, and  console  yourself  with  the  thought  of  your  wicked 
husband,  who  also  is  served  badly  enough  !  Tell  good 
Pepsel  he  should  only  see  Genoa  too  !  Everyone  must 
come  and  see  Genoa  ! — 

I  think  of  bathing  in  the  sea  to-day  ;   whatever  occurs 
to  me  after,  you  shall  hear  when  I  write  again,  occasion 
for  which  I'm  hoping  to  receive  tomorrow  through  a  letter 
from  yourself.      Fare\vell,  dear  Mienel. 
Take  a  hearty  kiss  from 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

55. 

GENOA,  3.  September  1853. 

MY  GOOD,  GOOD  MIENEL, 

I  was  seized  with  such  woeful  home-sickness 
to-day,  that  I  couldn't  write  to  you,  and  gave  it  up. 
Already  I  had  closed  my  trunk,  when  I  found  no  peace 


126  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

before  I  sent  you  off  another  greeting  ;  so  I  have  unpacked 
the  writing-gear  again,  just  to  tell  you  briefly  that  I'm 
starting  in  an  hour  for  Spezia  by  the  steamer,  which  only 
goes  on  Saturdays.  That  will  not  prevent  my  getting 
your  letters  safely,  though  ;  yesterday  I  received  your 
second  addressed  to  Turin.  So  have  no  fear,  but  continue 
addressing  to  Genoa  ("  Genes'")  ;  for  I  am  bound  to  return 
here,  and  simply  do  not  know  how  long  I  shall  remain  at 
Spezia.  From  Spezia — where  I  arrive  tomorrow  morning — 
I  shall  write  you  again  at  once,  also  enclosing  the  lines 
for  Wyss  to  Liszt.  For  to-day  I  will  merely  add,  that  I 
haven't  been  feeling  quite  well — presumably  owing  to  the 
great  change  of  diet ;  but  I  fancy  the  sea-voyage  will  cure 
me,  even  the  sea-sickness  perhaps.  So  don't  be  anxious 
about  me  ;  rather,  take  good  care  of  yourself- — do  you 
hear  ? 

My  God,  if  a  poodle  hadn't  eaten  with  me  yesterday, 
I    should    have    been    all    alone    again  ;    to-day    I    nearly 
broke  down   with    home-sickness — my    God  !      Oh    yes — 
I'm  certain  to  return  soon,  heavenly  beautiful  tho'    it  is 
here  ! 

Adieu,  dear  good  Mienel  !      Many,  many  kisses  from 

Thy 

HUSBAND. 

56. 

GENOA,  6.  September  1853. 

DEAR  MIENEL, 

Ridicule   me   as  much   as  you   will,  I'm  turning 
tail !     I  have  taken  my  place  for  the  homeward  journey 
via   the  Lago  maggiore  already  ;   a  telegram   has  also  just 
gone  off,  which — as  I  couldn't  get  it  through  in  German— 
I  have  despatched  to  Sulzer,   that  he  may  bring  it  you 


ZURICH    PERIOD  127 

nicely  translated,  and  so  no  confusion  arise.  If  yon  follow 
that  despatch's  invitation,  to  be  sure,  this  letter  will  not 
reach  your  hands  until  after  our  joint  return  ;  but  in  case 
your  health  should  not  permit  you  to  come  as  far  as 
Fltielen  to  meet  me,  you'll  receive  this  letter  just  before 
my  own  return,  presumably  Saturday  morning  [roth], 
whereas  I  hope  to  be  with  you  by  Saturday  evening.— 

My  decision  to  turn  back  was  unavoidable  after  my 
thoroughly  convincing  myself  how  things  stood  with  me. 
At  Spezia  yesterday,  so  soon  as  I  conceived  the  thought  of 
turning  home,  my  whole  state  of  health  promptly  grew 
better ;  and  with  a  certain  cheerfulness  I  mounted  the 
mail  which  has  brought  me  to  Genoa,  where  I  meant  to 
determine  in  fine.  Hardly  had  my  improvement  betrayed 
me  into  resuming  my  former  plan  of  travel  and  deciding 
on  the  tour  to  Nice,  however,  than  the  old  discomfort 
instantly  recurred,  and  I  could  only  dislodge  it  by  a 
prompt  and  firm  conclusion  for  return,  when  I  got  better 
at  once. 

I  should  have  started  this  very  evening,  if  I  hadn't  to 
wait  until  tomorrow  morning  for  a  letter  that  has  gone 
to  Spezia  by  my  previous  orders,  and  therefore  crossed  me. 
So  don't  you  write  me  any  more,  nor  forward  any  letters. 
Next  Saturday  (!!!)  you  shall  hear  100,000  things  by 
mouth  from  your  good  ice-bird  and  loving  husband 

RICHARD. 

To  a  merry  meeting ! 

Should  you  have  to  go  to  Baden  now,  why,  go  of 
course  ;  I  can  come  to  you  there,  and  be  at  home  just 
the  same. 

Adieu,  good  Mienel  and  Pepsel. 

[Soon  offer  comes  a  rendezvous  at  Basle  with  Liszt,  on  the  latter  s  way 
back  from  the  Carlsruhe  festival. — -Tr.] 


128  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

57. 

BASLE,  7.  Octbr.  1853. 

MY  DEAR  MlENEL, 

The  pace  is  awful  here  :   I'm  going  crazy  ;  hardly 
can  I  bring  off  two  lines  to  yourself. 

Just  think  of  it  !  Liszt  came  with  :  i,  Billow  ;  2, 
Joachim  ;  3,  R.  Pohl  from  Dresden  ;  4,  Cornelius  from 
Berlin  ;  5,  Pruckner  from  Munich  ;  6,  Remenyi  from 
Hungary.  On  their  entry  into  the  hotel,  all  bellowed  the 
trombone  passage  from  Lohengrin.  Early  this  morning- 
there  also  came  the  Furstin  [Carolyne  Sayn-Wittgenstein] 
with  her  daughter,  and  a  relative  of  Prince  Wittgenstein's. 
—I  hadn't  slept  last  night,  and  you  may  imagine  how 
I've  been  bombarded  to-day  !  So  the  merest  needful 
on  the  rush  !  — 

Tomorrow  afternoon,  Saturday,  I  go  with  Liszt  to 
Strassbtirg,  and  on  Sunday  to  Paris.  All  the  others  turn 
back.— 

For  Paris,  Liszt  has  invited  me  to  stay  with  him  at  the 
Hotel  de  Paris  (Rue  Richelieu}.  So  address  me  in  future  : 


(Mr.  R.  W. 

Rue  Richelieu  Hotel  de  Paris 


a 

Paris.} 


For  the  rest,  these  people  give  me  great  delight  ;  the 
Furstin  proposed  your  health  at  dinner.  All  send  you 
greetings. 

Farewell,  old  treasure  ;   hold  me  dear,  don't  let   Peps 
sleep  too  much,  and  bring  up  Jacquot  well. 
Thy  altogether  glorious 

HUSBANDDDDD  ! 

I  shall  write  you  full  particulars  of  your  joiirney  : 
Liszt  will  remain  in  Paris  till  about  the  i6th  or  i8th. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  129 

58. 

PARIS,  ii.  October  1853. 

O  thoti  who  art  good  Muzius  incarnate  ! — 
So  3  whole  days  have  passed  without  my  being  able 
to  write  to  you  !  Yesterday  I  had  set  apart  a  special 
time  for  it,  but  when  I  wanted  to  commence,  behold, 
that  cursed  youngster  Hermann  [L/iszt's  servant]  had  gone 
off  with  the  key  of  my  trunk,  and  was  nowhere  to  be 
seen  or  heard  ;  so  that — put  out  as  I  was  in  general — I 
never  came  to  writing. — Not  that  I'm  going  to  write 
much  to  you,  even  to-day  ;  we  shall  have  time  enough 
here  soon,  on  the  spot,  to  entertain  ourselves  by  mouth 
with  all  past  happenings.  So  merely  the  main  headings 
to-day,  and  what  you  must  hear. 

Saturday  ( — I'm  all  at  sea  about  the  days) — yes : 
Saturday  afternoon  we  left  for  Strassburg,  where  the 
Fiirstin  meant  to  part  company  with  us.  Billow  (that 
good  young  man — he  really  is  !)  and  Joachim  also  accom- 
panied us  thither,  but  separated  from  us  midday  Sunday, 
at  Strassburg,  to  return  via  Carlsruhe.  The  Fiirstin,  on 
the  other  hand,  suddenly  made  up  her  mind  to  come  to 
Paris  too  ;  so  we  arrived  here  Sunday  evening,  and  Liszt 
was  obliged  to  descend  at  the  Hotel  des  Princes  (///)  rue 
Richelieu,  whither  he  naturally  invited  me  too.  He 
won't  hear  of  my  not  being  his  guest,  you  see  ;  I  never 
get  a  chance  of  paying.  For  that  matter,  I  have  to 
work  it  duly  off ;  poor  beggar,  I  must  sing,  read,  talk, 
and  explain, — you  know  how  people  always  tap  me  ! 
After  all,  one  does  it  gladly  ;  only  sleep  is  very  poor, 
almost  absent  in  fact. 

Yesterday    morning   I    went  in   search   of    Kietz  :    he 
wras  in  the  country,  sure  enough  ;   but  he   has  been  sent 
for,  and  I  expect  to  see  him  soon.      I've  not  yet  been  to 
VOL.    i  9 


130          RICHARD   TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

Anders,  and  to-day  I  haven't  yet  been  out  at  all.  Last 
evening  we  all  dined  quite  domestically  with  Liszt's 
3  children  "  en  famille  " — Berlioz  joined  us  later.— 

The  rest  of  the  day — as  I  hadn't  found  Kietz — I 
sauntered  through  the  streets  alone,  and  had  to  laugh 
like  a  child  at  the  beautiful  things  [in  the  shops].  Of 
course  I  never  lost  you  from  my  thoughts,  and  heartily 
looked  forward  to  a  thorough  rummaging  around  with 
you  soon  ;  the  elegance  here  has  enormously  increased, 
and  everything  is  so  seductive  that  one  would  like  to 
have  thousands  in  one's  pockets,  just  to  be  able  to  take 
the  stuff  home.  I  am  positively  afraid  lest  our  money 
might  also  give  out  on  our  very  first  outing,  such  a 
quantity  I  should  like  to  buy  you  !  So  just  bring  all  the 
money  you  possess  and  can  lay  hands  on  ;  for  instance, 
change  the  50  thaler  at  Hug's  as  well.  Simply  money  : 
we  may  need  it  here  ;  on  our  return  we  shall  find  fresh 
money  waiting,  in  any  case.— 

But  listen,  Mietzel  !  Liszt  is  staying  on  till  the 
2Oth,  his  Fiirstin  also  ;  therefore  I  candidly  advise  you 
not  to  come  before  they^ve  gone  (particularly  she]  ;  it's 
too  genant.  Moreover,  I  shouldn't  at  all  know  what  to 
do  about  the  hotel  :  here  I  have  a  tiny  room  at  Liszt's 
expense — which  genes  me — but  when  you  come,  I  of 
course  must  move  out,  so  that  we  may  lodge  (in  comfort) 
at  our  own  expense.  All  that  I'll  soon  attend  to  finely  : 
so  I  recommend  you 

To  start  at  8  on  Wednesday  the  19^, — by  4  in  the 
afternoon  you'll  be  at  Basle.  Should  you  want  anything 
there,  just  send  to  Herr  Merian-Kochlin  ;  he  called  on 
me  at  Basle,  and  begged  me  to  direct  you  to  him.— 

Then  at  5  on  Thursday  morning,  the  2O///,  you  take 
the  express  direct  to  Paris,  where  you  will  be  received 


ZURICH    PERIOD  131 

about  10  in  the  evening  by  your  good  little  hubbie. 
The  journey  is  quite  agreeable,  and  not  fatiguing  ;  you 
will  stand  it  well,  I  hope.  Then  what  an  unholy  fling 
we'll  have  here  !  Adieu,  good  old  Wine  ;  salute  the 
children  (good  Pepsel  !) — you  soon  shall  hear  more  from 
your 

dear  little 

Dick  (Richardchen). 

So  address  :   Hotel  des  Princes 

Rite  Richelieu. 

(Best  thanks  for  your  lllletter 

to  Basle  !  !  !) 

On  no  account  trim  a  bonnet  before  Paris  ;   you'll  be 
surprised  !  ! 


59. 

PARIS,  12.  October  1853. 

(Hotel  des  Princes 

Rue  Richelieu} 

Hm  !  Hm  !  Hm  !  Hm  ! 

No  letter  again  to-day  !  !  !— 

So  !  so  !  so  !  so  ! — 

Ei  !  ei  !  ei  !— 

Very  well,  dear  Mienel,  then  I  shall  simply  write  you 
that  it  abides  by  what  I  wrote  you  yesterday  :  Wednesday 
the  iQth  you  start,  and  Thursday  evening  I  receive  you 
here.  I  know  nothing  of  Kietz  as  yet. — Yesterday  I  had 
such  a  violent  headache  that  I  had  to  come  away  from 
the  theatre  franqais.  To-day  it's  better — I  actually  slept 
4  hours.— 

What  I  chiefly  have  to  say  to  you,  is  this  :  I've  just 
written  to  Sulzer  ;  if  he  gives  you  the  whole  of  the 
money  for  the  bill  of  exchange,  then  take  and  bring  it 


132  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

all  with  you  to  Paris  ;  we  can  make  good  use  of  it  here. 
The  rent  you  can  also  leave  till  I  return  ;  so — come  with 
an  immense  amount  of  money, — then  it  will  be  well  with 
you  on  earth,  i.e.  in  Paris  !  Adieu,  Mutz  ;  love  to  the 
children  ! 

Thy 

HANDSOME  HUBBIE. 

60. 

PARIS,  16.  October  1853. 

Best  thanks,  dear  Minna,  for  your  beautiful  cream- 
laid  letter  ;  it  tasted  capital  ! — But,  a  truce  to  words  and 
fiddle-faddle,  the  arrangement  holds  good  :  I  expect  you  at 
the  station  here  on  Thursday  evening.  True,  Liszt  and  his 
ladies  are  staying  still  longer  ;  he  wants  to  celebrate  his 
birthday  here,  the  24th  October  [really  the  22nd].  But  that 
need  make  no  difference,  as — the  Wesendoncks  are  here — 
and  you  can  be  with  them,  if  necessary,  should  I  at  any 
time  have  to  form  suite  where  you  either  couldn't,  or 
wouldn't  care  to  go.  Yes,  I  really  had  to  burst  out 
laughing  yesterday,  when  in  the  rue  Richelieu  I  suddenly 
met  the  good  American  [Otto  Wk],  who  pointblank  refused 
to  believe  it  was  I.  Liszt  is  going  to  pay  a  call  with  me 
on  the  Wesendoncks  to-day,  but  all  our  evenings  are  so 
filled  up  already,  that  \ve  can't  be  in  their  company  at 
present  ;  to-day  we  have  to  be  at  Erard's,  tomorrow  at 
the  Countess  Kalergis',  the  day  after  to-morrow  at  Jules 
Janin's  ;  and  so  it  goes  on.  Fran  Wesendonck  was 
highly  delighted  when  she  learnt  that  you  were  coming 
too.  They  intend  remaining  here  a  fortnight  in  all  ; 
which  will  be  very  agreeable  for  us,  only  I  fancy  we  can't 
stay  so  long,  were  it  only  for  poor  dear  Pepsel's  sake,  who 
is  making  my  heart  ache  already  :  what  do  yoii  think 
yourself  ? — 


ZURICH    PERIOD  133 

I  have  written  to  Sulzer  again  to-day  :  he  will  give 
you — I  hope  so — whole  heaps  of  money,  all  of  which  I 
can  repay  him  after  our  return.  But — money  we  require 
here,  immensely  much  money — else  it's  no  good  ;  and 
you  then  shall  come  in  for  a  really  fine  treat  ! — Na,  adieu  ! 
A  pleasant  journey,  and  observe  my  plan  of  it  ! — I  shall 
fetch  you  Thursday  evening,  and  tickle  you  to  your  heart's 
content  ! — Ah,  poor  Peps  ! — Adieu  ! 

Thy 

RlCHEL. 

[After  a  week  spent  together  in  Paris,  they  return  to  Zurich  toward  the 
end  of  the  month,  and  Minna  is  the  next  to  leave  it,  for  a  whey-cure  at 
Seelisberg. — 7>.] 


61. 

ZURICH,  \.JuIy  1854. 

O  you  poor  ill-used  Wife,  disgracefully  thrust  out  into 
misery  !  ! 

Be  assured,  I  heartily  regret  my  having  so  insisted  on 
your  starting  ;  only  believe  me,  it  was  from  the  best  of 
motives  in  the  world,  out  of  true  zeal  for  your  health  ! 
But  all  our  hopes  of  better  weather  have  shamefully  been 
set  at  naught  ;  each  morning  I  awake  with  horror,  and 
think  of  you  with  deep  regret.  In  my  opinion,  if  it 
becomes  too  much  for  you  to  wait  for  decent  weather, 
you  should  return  at  once  until  it  quite  clears  up.— 

Indeed  you  are  right,  it  is  too  bad  that  none  of  our 
acquaintances  can  ever  give  us  proper  information  ;  one 
always  tells  us  this,  another  that  !  Your  travelling- 
adventures  moved  me  deeply,  you  always  seem  to  have 
bad  luck  when  riding.  And  then,  you're  all  alone  as  yet 
up  there  !  My  God,  that  really  must  be  dreadful  ;  do 
please  turn  back,  and  don't  force  anything  :  perhaps 


134  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

it     will     be    fine     in     a    week,     when     you    can    return 
again. 

No  further  reply  can  I  make  to  your  letter  of  lamenta- 
tion, than  to  help  you  lament,  and  declare  you  are  right 
should  you  be  wanting  to  hook  it  ! 

It's  deuced  quiet  here  ;  not  a  soul  to  be  heard  or  seen. 
On  the  day  of  your  departure  the  little  Major  ran  into  me  in 
the  afternoon  :  he  was  meaning  to  call  on  the  Marschalls  ; 
I  accompanied  him,  but  the  Marschalls  weren't  in.  So  I 
took  Miiller  [the  "Major"?]  up  home  with  me;  Nette  had 
to  brew  tea  and  provide  tongue,  which  the  Majorkin 
greatly  enjoyed.  Otherwise  no  one  has  shewn  his  face  ; 
but  I'm  invited  to  dinner  at  Herwegh's  on  Sunday- 
tomorrow — they  are  the  only  people  who  have  bothered 
about  me.  Nothing  has  altered  in  my  mode  of  life, 
excepting  that  I  am  even  more  industrious  than  before. 
Besides  the  forenoon,  I  also  work  two  hours  an  evening 
now,  from  6  to  8,  then  go  and  drink  a  glass  of  beer — all 
alone — and  get  home  again  by  9.  In  the  early  morn  I  now 
go  out  for  Carlsbad  water  ;  I  have  also  given  up  eating 
butter  :  it  was  a  mistake. 

Things  at  home  seem  otherwise  going  fairly  straight  : 
I  can  detect  no  disorder  ;  the  food  is  tolerable,  only  the 
soups  are  wretched  ;  quiet  reigns.  Jacqiiot  is  in  fine 
form,  prattling  and  whistling  to  his  heart's  content  ;  often 
he  has  flown  into  my  room  ;  otherwise  I  insist  on  N.'s 
remaining  in  the  parlour  with  him.  Peps  seems  to  have 
lost  a  little  of  his  appetite  all  at  once  ;  yesterday,  as  it  at 
least  was  dry  again,  he  had  to  walk  with  me  to  Zollikon, 
when  I  was  also  accompanied  by  Herr  Wiedu,  who  got 
nicely  taken  in,  for  once,  in  this  way  :  of  a  sudden  I  saw 
him  watching  a  spot  in  the  field  behind  us,  and  creeping 
stealthily  towards  it  ;  really,  Peps  was  snuffing  around 


ZURICH    PERIOD  135 

there,  half  hidden  ;  but  Wiedu  took  him  for  a  cat,  and 
was  just  about  to  attack  him  very  gingerly,  when — at 
close  quarters — he  precious  soon  discovered  his  mistake. 
I  couldn't  help  roaring  with  laughter  ! — 

Hardly  a  single  letter  ;  I'm  waiting  anxiously  for 
money,  or  I  shan't  quite  know  how  to  get  away.  I  have 
had  profuse  apologies  from  Coburg :  the  Intendant  was 
still  absent,  they  wrote,  but  they  had  no  doubt  he  would 
comply  with  my  request — for  prepayment.  The  same 
letter  wound  up  with  the  brief  intimation  that  Fischer 
had  had  a  stroke,  but  with  no  preciser  statement,  which 
Fischer  or  where,  so  that  I'm  waiting  for  a  corroboration 
from  Dresden  ;  meantime  I  shall  continue  to  refuse  to  fear 
the  worst. — Otherwise  only  Schmidt  of  Frankfort  has 
written  :  he  cannot  come  ;  their  Lohengrin  had  much 
success  again  ;  Hoffmann  will  give  the  Hollander  also  this 
autumn.  To-day  a  letter  came  from  Selisberg — but  you 
already  know  that.— 

If  it  weren't  for  that  cur  *  *  *  Music-feast,  I  shouldn't 
stir  a  foot,  but  go  straight  on  composing  \_Walkure,  act  i]  ; 
I  am  quite  in  the  vein  again.  It  annoys  me  to  think  I 
must  interrupt  myself  ;  if  anything  were  to  go  just  half- 
way counter  to  my  wish,  I  should  be  equal  to  declaring 
myself  ill  and  letting  the  whole  business  drop.  Well,  you 
shall  hear  again  if  I  start. 

So  !  So  !  So  ! — I  have  begun  attending  to  your  orders. 
Herewith  you  have  the  Kladderatatsch  ;  it's  a  double 
number,  and  will  last  you  out.  Cheer  up  ;  as  soon  as  the 
weather  behaves  itself,  I  am  sure  you'll  feel  quite  well 
up  there.  I  wish  it  you  with  all  my  heart,  and  am  looking 
forward  gladly  to  the  certain  good  result. 

The    animal    and   human   household    sends    kind    love. 
Papo  [Jacquot]  is  just  hopping  about  with  Peps.      Farewell 


136  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

and  write  me  pretty  soon  again,    that  I  may  know  how 
you're  doing.      Adieu,  dear  Minna. 

Thy  R. 

62. 

ZURICH,  3.Jufy  1854. 

I  cannot  help  congratulating  you,  dear  Minna,  on  this 
beautiful  weather  ! — It  has  removed  a  mill-stone  from  my 
heart. 

Nothing  else  occurred. — I  have  received  a  little 
money,  and  so  can  get  away.  I  shall  write  you  again, 
tho',  first. 

Farewell  and  keep  your  spirits  up  !  I  merely  wanted 
to  congratulate  you,  and  tell  you  how  delighted  I  am  with 
the  weather. 

Thy 

RlCHEL. 

63. 

SITTEN  [SIGN],  10.  July  1854. 

DEAR  MINNA, 

I  cannot  write  you  much  to-day,  as  I  rrmst  soon 
go  out,  and  probably  shan't  have  another  opportunity 
all  day. 

I  received  your  letter  last  evening,  and  thank  you  for 
having  so  stuck  to  sending  me  a  greeting  here  !  I  can 
tell  you  little  cheering  as  regards  myself.  I  bitterly  repent 
having  let  myself  be  lured  here  ;  how  I  wish  I  had 
followed  my  instinct,  and  calmly  stayed  at  work  in  Zurich  ! 
In  the  first  place,  they  ordered  me  here  much  too  early  ; 
since  the  day  before  yesterday  have  I  been  in  this  tiny 
hovel  to  no  purpose  at  all,  and  mostly  in  bad  weather. 
The  real  rehearsal  doesn't  take  place  till  tomorrow,  most 
of  the  bandsmen  not  arriving  till  to-day.  Next,  it  isn't 


ZURICH    PERIOD  137 

even  a  genuine  Federal  music-feast  at  all,  but  merely  for 
the  district  ;  they  will  be  glad  to  get  an  audience  of  500. 
A  poor  orchestra  has  been  run  up  in  a  small  church  :  the 
whole  thing  as  pitiful  as  possible.  About  35  bandsmen 
are  coming  ;  the  rest  are  nondescripts  one  had  best  not 
let  join  in  at  all.  In  short,  this  pickle  makes  me  feel  as 
if  at  a  country  fair  where  I  had  to  masquerade  as  Kapell- 
meister, and  I  have  a  very  good  mind  to  decamp.  I'll 
just  hear  how  the  church  behaves  to-day  ;  if  the  echo  is 
too  great,  and  the  orchestra,  as  I  much  fear,  sounds  mixed 
and  indistinct,  I  shall  transfer  the  whole  mess  to  Herr 
Methfessel,  who  will  lick  his  every  ringer  for  it,  and  get 
away.  It  is  a  pure  effrontery,  to  expect  me  to  deal  with 
such  rubbish  ;  I  am  greatly  put  out  at  not  having  fol- 
lowed my  own  inclination  and  stayed  at  home.— 

The  Karls  [young  Ritter  and  bride]  are  very  prettily  lodged 
on  the  Lake  of  Geneva  ;  I  spent  a  day  with  them — un- 
fortunately in  pouring  rain.  He  came  hither  with  me  ; 
she — most  sensibly  ! — -remained  behind.  For  the  nonce  I 
return  to  them  :  if  the  weather  turns  fine,  I  shall  stay 
there  ;  I've  brought  my  work.  Then  I  should  tranquilly 
abide  the  time  for  fetching  you.  That  part  I've  reckoned 
out  with  Sulzer  :  on  the  25th  we  mean  to  reach  you 
together  at  Selisberg — he  coming  from  Graubiinden,  I 
from  the  Oberland.  Should  the  weather  favour  me,  I 
shall  cross  the  Gemini — with  Karl — and  march  through 
the  Oberland  ;  should  it  not,  I  shall  simply  come  by 
Thun  :  all  which  will  decide  itself  later.  Then  we 
should  arrive  in  your  exact  4th  week  of  cure,  and  you 
would  return  with  us  to  Zurich. — 

Lord  knows,  I  know  of  nothing  else  to  tell  you  ; 
beyond  my  journey,  absolutely  nothing  has  occurred  to  me, 
and  I'm  as  put  out  as  a  devil  at  being  here.  The  Karls 


138  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

have  provisionally  installed  themselves  quite  daintily  ;  she 
hasn't  made  at  all  a  bad  housewife.  But  the  whole  thing 
seems  so  curious  to  me  ! — 

From  Dresden  I  have  heard  nothing  at  all  ;  con- 
sequently I  know  nothing  definite  about  Fischer  either, 
whether  he  has  merely  had  a  stroke — or  really  is  dead. 
Therefore  I  shall  not  give  way  to  the  worst  apprehensions 
even  yet. — Your  dream  has  no  significance  ;  Karl  knows 
all  about  that.  That  you  otherwise  seem  in  fairly  good 
spirits,  as  your  letter  bears  witness  again,  rejoices  me 
heartily  ;  I  am  sure  I  shall  find  you  in  very  good  form. — 
Peps  turned  quite  lively  again,  at  the  last,  when  he 
remarked  that  I  was  starting.  The  bachelors  kept  up  the 
farewell  fete  until  3  in  the  morning  !  I  had  gone  home 
already  at  n.  The  savages  !  ! — 

Na,  I  must  dress  now,  to  take  stock  of  the  church.— 
I'll  just  wait  for  my  verdict,  before  closing  this  letter. — 
Adieu  for  the  moment. 

6  P.M. 

I  will  just  conclude  by  telling  you,  I  shall  probably 
give  in  and  remain  after  all  ;  some  of  the  Berne  musicians 
would  have  been  greatly  disappointed.  For  the  rest,  I 
have  been  unable  to  take  anything  in  hand  to-day  again  ; 
consequently  I  shall  be  sleeping  the  3rd  night  in  this  hovel 
for  nothing.  Catch  me  doing  it  another  time  !— Presum- 
ably you  will  receive  my  next  letter  from  Vevey  ;  so,  if 
you're  writing  at  once,  write  me  there  : 

Vevey 
Paste  restante  :  Canton  de  Vaud. 

Farewell,  old  Muzius  ;  to  a  speedy,  hale  and  hearty 
meeting  !  In  worse  humour  I  can  never  be,  than  here 


ZURICH    PERIOD  139 

and  now  !      Farewell,  have  your  spit  at  the  Griitli   house 
[just  below  her],  and  hold  dear 

Thy  faithful  spouse 

R.  W. 


64. 

VERNEX,  13.  July  1854. 

DEAR  MINNA, 

I  must  prepare  myself  for  being  severely  scolded 
by  you  this  time  ! 

The  evening  I  wrote  you  last  from  Sitten  things 
there  became  too  loathsome  for  me,  and  at  10  that  night 
I  rapidly  made  up  my  mind  and  took  myself  off,  after 
transferring  the  symphony  as  well  to  Methfessel.  For 
I  learnt  that  many  even  of  the  bandsmen  engaged  had 
not  turned  up,  and  in  fact  were  not  coming  at  all. 
That  knocked  the  bottom  out  of  the  tub  ;  I  could  do  no  else 
than  give  the  business  up — whereby  perhaps,  if  truth 
were  told,  I  quite  suited  the  feast-givers'  book.  Methfessel 
had  never  seriously  believed  that  I  would  come,  you  see, 
and  already  had  provided  for  another,  easier  symphony. 
Even  on  my  way  here  I  met  Dr.  Ziegler  of  Winterthur,  who 
likewise  had  heard  I  wasn't  coming,  and  was  quite  surprised 
to  see  me.  The  gentlemen  at  Sitten  too,  a  lot  of  clerics, 
didn't  quite  know  what  to  do  with  me,  for  doubtless  they 
also  could  read  in  my  face  that  the  thing  would  not  amuse 
me.  Finally  Methfessel  had  borne  all  the  burdens, 
rehearsed  the  choruses  with  untold  pains,  and  seen  to  all 
other  arrangements  ;  in  return  for  all  which  he  would 
have  been  thrust  back  by  myself,  in  a  sense,  to  obscurity. 
Himself  he  took  a  positive  delight  in  directing  my  atten- 
tion to  every  defect,  so  that  I  could  see  he  would  like  to 
be  decently  rid  of  me. — I'm  therefore  convinced  I  did  the 


140  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

right  thing  in  the  end,  and  that  these  people  were  secretly 
satisfied.  The  Rordorf,  for  instance,  declared  at  once,  she 
would  have  been  astonished  if  I  had  conducted.  It  was 
nothing  else — as  I  said  before— than  a  big  unmusical 
village  wake  :  I  am  certain  my  inner  vexation  and  shame 
at  the  degradingness  of  my  task  would  have  made  me  turn 
seriously  ill. — I  don't  imagine  much  is  likely  to  be  said 
about  it  :  it  is  to  be  hoped  they'll  pull  themselves  well 
out — if  not,  that's  their  affair  ;  never  in  my  life  will  I 
take  part  in  any  ' '  Music-feast, ' '  everything  has  turned 
out  so  badly,  and  worse  than  I  feared.— 

So  be  reasonable  yourself,  dear  Muzius,  and  don't 
make  me  any  fuss  !  !  ! — 

Ac  first  I  was  so  put  out,  that  I  meant  to  travel  home 
direct.  In  the  end  Karl  succeeded,  however,  in  tieing 
me  to  his  house  a  bit  longer  ;  he  has  abandoned  me  a 
little  sitting-room  with  a  lovely  view,  where  I  can  work 
undisturbed  the  whole  morning  ;  which  I  also  intend 
doing  for  the  present.  So  it  provisionally  abides  by  the 
latest  arrangement  I  wrote  you  ;  if  all  goes  well,  and  I 
remain  in  the  humour,  I  shall  wait  here  till  your  4th  week 
of  cure,  and  then  come — by  whichever  road  it  be — and 
fetch  you  home  (with  Sulzer).  Consequently  I  have 
nothing  fresh  to  write  you  upon  that. 

Only  one  letter  has  been  sent  after  me,  a  mile-long 
one  from  [Gustav]  Kietz,  from  Rome  still  ;  he  writes  of 
almost  nothing  save  the  fleas.  He  sends  you  many 
greetings.  — 

It  is  to  be  hoped  N.  has  sent  you  my  shoes  ;  I  think 
they  will  do  you  good  service. — How  goes  it  with  the 
cure  ?  are  you  right  already  in  the  body  ? — How  I  look 
forward  to  finding  you  perfectly  well  !— 

Above  all,  don't  take  the  Sitten  tale  amiss,  or  make 


ZURICH    PERIOD  141 

me  any  reproaches  !     Never  again  will  I  stoop  to  anything 
so  paltry  and  petty- fogging.— 

I  hope  to  have  another  letter  from  you  soon  ;  what 
you  write  me,  rest  assured,  ever  affords  me  great  pleasure, 
especially  when  you  give  rein  to  your  wit,  which  suits 
you  very  well. 

The  Karlery  sends  best  greetings  ;  and  your  poor 
excellent  husband  lays  himself  humbly  at  the  feet  of  his 
precious  dame  as 

Her  Majesty's 

most  obedient 

MAN. 

Direct  your  next  letter 

a  Monsieur  R.   W. 

chez  Mr.  Rivaz 

fi  Collongcs  pres  Montreux 

Canton  de   Vaud. 

65. 

COLLONGES,  BY  MONTREUX 

ij.Jitly  1854. 

DEAR  MINNA, 

Yesterday  I  informed  you  by  telegraph  that  I 
was  returning  to  Zurich.  Really  I  have  nothing  to  add 
to  it,  excepting  that  I  go  direct  tomorrow  evening,  and 
consequently  shall  be  at  home  by  Wednesday  night.  You 
know  how  I  originally  meant  to  return  by  the  Oberland, 
and  thus  fetch  you  en  route  ;  but  it  transpires  that 
the  Karls  have  no  present  relish  for  an  Alpine  tour  : 
moreover  you  know  his  whimsicality,  so  that  I  gladly 
save  that  for  another  time  and  good  company.  Alone, 
again,  I  haven't  the  smallest  desire  for  a  mountain  trip  ; 
I  should  grudge  the  money.  Nothing  would  therefore 


142  RICHARD   TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

remain  for  me,  if  I  meant  to  come  to  you  from  here,  but 
the  journey  by  Berne  and  Lucerne.  I  was  pining  for 
home,  however,  and  in  the  long  run  one  only  bores 
oneself  with  Karl,  whilst  I  lacked  the  convenience  for 
work  ;  also,  the  weather  is  frequently  bad.  So  I  swiftly 
resolved  to  go  home  for  a  week,  went  to  Vevey — an  hour 
and  a  half  from  here — and  telegraphed.  On  my  return  I 
found  your  letter  waiting,  for  which  I  thank  you  very 
much,  as  it  thoroughly  revived  me  :  only,  it  perplexed  me 
again  what  to  do,  since  you  write  that  Sulzer  meant  to  meet 
me  up  with  you  as  early  as  the  22nd,  instead  of  the  26th. 
It  would  be  scarcely  worth  the  trouble  now  to  go  to 
Zurich  first,  as  I  should  only  be  able  to  stay  there  exactly 
2  days  if  I  departed  with  Sulzer  on  Saturday.  At  this 
moment,  after  thinking  it  over,  I'm  all  hesitation  again  : 
there,  Karl  is  calling  to  breakfast  ;  I'll  determine  then.— 

Now  my  mind  is  made  up.  If  I'm  to  reach  you  at 
the  same  time  as  Sulzer,  I  cannot  go  to  Zurich  for  2  days 
first  ;  I  should  be  sorry  for  Pepsel,  having  to  leave  him 
behind  me  so  soon  again.  Therefore  I  shall  come  to  you 
from  here,  so  as  to  arrive  the  22nd  or  at  latest  the  23rd. 
By  which  road,  I  don't  exactly  know  :  if  the  weather  is 
fine,  I  probably  shall  take  the  Brunig  after  all  ;  if  not,  I 
shall  come  via  Berne  and  Lucerne.  Of  course,  you  can't 
write  me  again,  as  I  shouldn't  know  where  you  ought  to 
write  to  ;  let  us  hope  no  mishap  may  betide  you  mean- 
while.— 

But  what  a  marplot  Sulzer  is  !— 

Liszt  wrote  the  other  day,  but  nothing  of  importance. 
Avenarius  also  :  he  is  revelling  in  the  remembrance  [of  his 
visit]  still. 

And  so  you  have  a  fine  theatre  with  such  good  actors  ? 
Perhaps  there'll  be  a  little  left  of  it  for  me  to  see  !— 


ZURICH    PERIOD  143 

God,  how  gladly  I'd  have  stayed  entirely  at  home  this 
summer  ;  I  positively  deplore  the  grand  time  when  my 
humour  for  work  was  so  good  !  People  should  leave  me 
unshorn  !— 

Now  to  a  speedy  reunion  !  Your  reports  on  your 
health  rejoice  me  immensely  !  Farewell,  and  keep  gay 
till  our  meeting. 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

[From  Seelisberg  they  both  returned  to  Zurich  by  the  beginning  of 
August ;  a  month  later,  Sept.  2,  Minna  started  alone  on  a  two  months' 
visit  to  sundry  relatives  and  friends  in  Germany.  —  Tr.  ] 

66. 

ZURICH,  3.  Sept.  1854. 

DEAR  MIENEL, 

Accept  my  hearty  congratulations  on  your  birth- 
day ;  you  may  be  sure  I  shall  keep  it  with  great  devotion  ! 
I  confidently  hope  you  arrived  safely  and  are  feeling 
cheerful  to-day  in  the  lap  of  your  family.  Think  of  me, 
as  I  think  of  you  ! 

And  now  my  best  thanks  for  the  telegram,  which  I 
received  before  going  to  bed  ;  I  have  been  with  you  all 
the  time,  and  not  had  much  rest  ! 

Once  more — be  merry  on  your  birthday  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

67. 

ZURICH,  7.  September  1854. 

Thank  God,  dear  Minna,  a  letter  has  arrived  to-day  ! 
If  none  had  come  to-day,  I  meant  to  send  a  telegram  to 
Troger  [her  Zwickau  brother-in-law] ;  I  had  firmly  settled  that. 
For  I  believed  that,  had  you  written  on  the  4th  (Monday), 


T44  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

the  letter  could  have  got  here  by  Wednesday  (the  6th). 
But  it  has  taken  a  day  longer,  since  to-day  is  the  yth  ;  so 
perhaps  you  also  did  not  get  my  birthday  wishes  duly  on 
the  5th,  but  a  day  too  late  !  I'm  truly  sorry  !  In  every 
way  your  birthday's  falling  there  has  been  a  regular 
teaser.*  I  had  promised  my  household,  the  day  before, 
that  a  "half"  should  be  cracked  in  your  honour;  but 
on  the  morning  of  the  5th  I  unfortunately  arose  with  a 
sore  throat,  brought  on  through  a  chill  in  my  bath  :  I 
had  a  slight  touch  of  fever,  and  thought  needful  to  diet 
myself  strictly  all  day,  to  prevent  the  inflammation  getting 
thorough  hold  and  my  labouring  under  it  about  a  fort- 
night, like  my  poor  dear  wife.  Moreover,  Nette  also 
had  been  seized  with  the  quinsy,  which  accordingly  must 
have  been  smuggled  into  our  house  by  yourself ;  she  is 
barking  finer  and  more  expressively  than  Peps,  and — as 
one  used  to  say — has  got  a  rouser.  Under  such  circum- 
stances I  also  refused  an  evening  invitation  to  Wesen- 
donck's,  whither  Sulzer  had  been  bidden  as  well  (on 
account  of  your  birthday).  So  the  day  passed  fairly 
dismally,  but  I  decreed  that  if  a  good  letter  arrived  from 
the  wife  the  next  morning,  the  ' '  half ' '  should  be  drunk 
on  the  6th.  Well,  the  quinsy  had  left  me  by  the 
morning  of  the  6th,  but — the  letter  also  stayed  away  ; 
which  so  annoyed  me  all  day,  that  I  worked  like  a  fury, 
but  thought  of  no  half.  In  fact  I  became  quite  alarmed 
about  you,  and  tortured  myself  with  the  blackest  of  fears  ; 
so  that  I  had  a  wretched  night's  sleep,  got  up  for  2  hours, 
and  longed  for  day  to  come  and  bring  the  chance  of 
tidings.  Now  they've — arrived,  and  at  least  I  see  that 
the  journey  passed  off  without  actual  mishap,  and  you 


*  "  Eine  recht  vcrzwicktc  Sache  "  ;  a  pun  on  Zwickau. — Tr. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  145 

have  reached  the  bosom  of  your  family.  No  wonder,  on 
the  other  hand,  you're  feeling  so  knocked  up  ;  looking 
back,  it  really  was  a  great  stupidity  for  you  to  have 
taken  this  fatiguing  journey  so  soon  ;  we  won't  commit 
it  again  !  And  now  I  beseech  you  by  everything  in  the 
world :  take  it  easy ;  be  boundlessly  lazy,  and  cosset 
yourself  to  your  heart's  content  !  Don't  think  of  leaving 
Zwickau  till  you  are  in  perfect  condition  again.  What 
you  write  me  of  the  amiable  brother-in-law  [a  doctor]  has 
rejoiced  me  quite  :  under  care  such  as  that,  I  foresee, 
you'll  succeed  in  thorough  convalescence.  Poor  woman, 
you  need  it  !  I  am  very  glad  about  the  good  old  mother, 
too,  and  stout  L/otte  and  the  old  man  with  all  his  wits 
about  him  have  also  put  me  in  good  humour.  In  short 
—the  long-deferred  shall  come  to  pass  to-day,  and  your 
birthday  be  kept  by  us  after  the  event  ;  in  fact  with  the 
Wesendoncks,  who  have  had  the  good  idea  of  inviting 
me  and  Nette  to  dinner  to-day.  There  a  whole  must  do 
duty  !— 

Otherwise  I  have  nothing — as  you  may  well  conceive — 
to  tell  you  of  ourselves  ;  I  go  on  working  (a  little  too 
hard,  I  fear),  and  look  neither  left  nor  right.  Neither  has 
anything  occurred.  Merely  a  Privy  Commerce-Councillor 
Moritz  Colin  from  Dessau  has  called  on  me,  filled  his 
mouth  with  my  fame,  and  finally  declared  he  knew  you 
very  well  from  Dessau  days  :  you  had  had  a  recommenda- 
tion to  him  from  Kaskel  [banker],  and  I  was  simply  to 
remind  you  of  the  "  Concordia "  (Pretty  tales!  and  I, 
poor  beggar,  to  be  asked  to  pass  them  on  !  !) 

Wesendoncks    want    to    decoy    me    into   flitting  with 

them  for  a  couple  of  days  ;   but  they  haven't  caught  me 

yet  :   I  do  not  feel  like  flitting.      Peps  has  done  another 

good  tramp  with  me  ;  Jacquot  makes  constant  progress  : 

VOL.    i  10 


146  RICHARD   TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

' '  Donnerwetter  ' '    he    had   already   got  pat,    and  to-day, 
after  many  rehearsals,  he  piped  the  Rienzi  correctly. 

Else  it's  very  still  with  me  ;  no  letters  at  all  !  But 
just  you  write  me  all  the  more,  and  they  shall  ever  be 
my  dearest  letters  !  Give  my  heartiest  greetings  to  all 
at  Zwickau,  and  tell  them  I  should  like  to  be  there  too  ; 
but,  were  I  to  attempt  it,  probably  I  should  have  to  stay 
in  Zwickau  rather  longer  than  either  they  or  I  might 
care  for. 

Now,  farewell,  dear  good  Wife  !  Tomorrow  I  expect 
with  great  delight  a  second  letter  from  you  ;  may  it 
bring  me  good  news  of  your  being  well !  With  that  wish 
I  mean  to  drink  your  health  to-day. 

Only  be  thoroughly  lazy,  and  for  once  seek  the 
Castle  of  Indolence  !  Farewell,  and  get  well  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

68. 

ZURICH,  13.  September  1854. 

MY  ENTIRELY  GOOD,   DEAR  MlENEL  ! 

No,  the  lovely  partridges  !  That  beats  everything  ! 
Only  to-day,  midst  the  feasting  on  ITJ  partridge,  have 
I  arrived  at  emptying  that  "half"  to  your  health  with 
the  house  of  Wagner.  You  were  wrong,  if  you  deemed 
it  a  thing  of  the  past  ;  after  the  birthday  had  been  made 
such  a  mess  of,  I  kept  waiting  for  a  really  good  occasion, 
to  be  supplied  by  the  first  letter  in  which  you  wrote  me 
that  you  were  feeling  somewhat  better  again.  I  was 
almost  glad  not  to  have  received  your  last  letter  but  one 
when  it  came,  for  you  really  had  framed  it  quite  sadly  ; 
at  least,  I  saw  you  weren't  at  all  the  thing  yet,  despite 
the  lovely  morning-music.  L,ast  evening  at  10  (wicked 


ZURICH    PERIOD  147 

person  !)  I  returned  from  the  Wesendonck  outing,  of 
which  you  no  doubt  have  had  tidings  by  now  through  my 
Seelisberg  letter  ;  but  your  letter  couldn't  rightly  cheer 
me,  not  so  much  because  of  your  forebodings,  as  for 
reason  of  the  mood  in  which  such  fears  still  haunted  you  : 
I  didn't  go  to  bed  till  12,  and  got  no  proper  sleep.  I 
awoke  with  a  shocking  nervous  headache  :  the  first  thing 
to  greet  me  was  the  post-slip  from  Zwickau.  Off  went 
Friederike  to  the  Post  forthwith  ;  the  box  was  opened, 
and  on  my  knees  I  burrowed  for  the  letter.  It  was  the 
good  letter,  at  last,  I  had  longed  for,  in  which  you  had  to 
admit  yourself  that  you  weren't  feeling  so  bad,  had  an 
appetite  and  slept  well.  At  once  I  gave  orders  :  all  three 
must  be  cooked,  and  Friederike  was  called  in  to  dinner  ; 
with  myself  and  Nette  she  had  to  pledge  a  glass  to  you 
twice  over,  and  this  time  it  didn't  taste  like  schnapps  to 
her.  That  took  away  my  headache  ;  now  I'm  smoking 
my  cigar  over  my  wee  cup  of  coffee,  and  writing  you 
quite  cosily  to  express  my  joy  at  your  condition.  Peps 
and  Jacquot  have  meantime  been  having  a  good  romp 
on  the  floor.  Peps  can't  make  the  bird  out  at  all  now, 
for  it  calls  Nette  quite  plainly  by  name  too,  and  keeps 
declaring  "Jacquot  wants  his  food  "  — so  that  Peps 
begins  to  take  it  for  a  higher  being.— 

O  yes,  dear  good  Minna,  you'll  soon  be  right  !  Your 
relations'  uneasiness  about  your  looks  the  first  few  days 
does  not  alarm  me  :  it  is  always  the  way  with  nerve- 
sufferers,  they  often  get  so  pulled  down  that  they  appear 
to  have  every  illness  in  the  \vorld  ;  once  the  nerves  are 
duly  soothed,  however,  it  all  has  vanished,  and  the 
organs  fulfil  their  whole  functions  according  to  rule. 
Still,  with  the  frequent  derangement  of  your  abdominal 
nerves,  it  may  be  well  to  supply  your  stomach  with  such 


148 

an  aliment  as  costs  it  the  minimum  of  labour  for  digestion 
and  yet  affords  the  body  the  needful  nutrition  ;  Troger 
is  perfectly  right.  If  your  condition  had  lasted,  we 
should  have  hit  on  that  ourselves  ;  you  know,  in  fact,  I 
ordered  it  myself  to  Emilie  Ritter. 

Your  remaining  quietly  at  Zwickau  still,  is  very 
sensible  ;  you  were  to  make  a  journey  of  recreation, 
remember,  not  a  tearing  about  from  place  to  place. 
Never  should  you  leave  the  one  before  you've  quite 
recovered  from  the  sure  fatigue  of  getting  there,  and  are 
feeling  thoroughly  yourself  again.  That  is  the  only  way, 
too,  for  this  journey  to  end  in  your  good  ;  and  I  must 
calmly  wait  for  your  return,  provided  only  you  return 
quite  strengthened  and  refreshed.— 

I  shall  also  be  sending  you  money  very  soon,  that 
you  may  be  hampered  in  nothing  ;  to  Chemnitz,  I 
expect.— 

Nothing  else  has  happened  here.  All  at  Seelisberg 
renew  their  greetings  to  you.  I  returned  alone  to  Zurich 
yesterday  ;  the  Wesendoncks  proceeded  to  the  Rigi,  but 
in  spite  of  all  entreaties  they  didn't  draw  me  up.  I  bade 
them  goodbye  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  and  brought  the 
letter  for  you  on  to  Zurich,  where  I  put  it  in  the  letter- 
box at  10  last  evening,  as  that  was  quicker  than  if  I  had 
posted  it  at  Brunnen. — Look  forward  to  next  summer  on 
the  Seelisberg  ;  it's  too  lovely  there  !  ! 

So  farewell  for  to-day,  my  good  Minna.  Give  my 
best  love  to  your  people,  and  tell  the  parents  they  must 
kindly  keep  alive  that  you  may  visit  them  every  two 
years.  To  good  Troger  give  a  right  brotherly  kiss  from 
me  :  that  people  should  go  breaking  their  legs  on  your 
birthday,  of  all  days,  1  set  down  as  impertinent  ;  the 
bandsmen  did  much  better,  to  be  in  such  good  wind. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  149 

Please  give  your  thanks  to  the  amiable  bandmaster  in  my 
name  also— it  really  was  quite  fine  of  him,  and  touched 
me,  too,  to  tears. 

Now  grant  me  the  great  pleasure  of  your  writing 
again  very  soon,  to  say  you  are  feeling  as  well,  and  have 
grown  as  stout,  as  [sister]  Charlotte  ! — Farewell,  dear  old 
Minna  ;  be  merry,  and  so  rejoice 

Thy 

R. 

I  didn't  know  that  your  sunshade  was  loaded  with 
shot  ;  I  got  some  of  it  between  my  teeth  here  ! 

69. 

ZURICH,  1 8.  September  1854. 

DEAR  MIENEL, 

I  suppose  you  are  vexed  with  me  about  my  last 
excursion  !  I  really  had  hoped  to  receive  a  letter  from 
you  to-day,  and  therefore  postponed  an  answer  to  your 
last  as  I  knew  it  had  crossed  my  own  letters,  and  you 
would  already  have  had  an  explanation  of  my  several 
days'  silence  last  week.  However,  I  shall  flatter  myself 
you  only  wanted  to  write  me  with  partridges  again,  which 
travel  somewhat  slower  than  a  simple  letter,  and  there- 
fore wouldn't  reach  me  with  one  till  tomorrow.  For 
to-day,  meanwhile,  I  simply  wish  to  tell  you  my  uneasi- 
ness so  as  to  induce  you  not  to  repay  evil  with  evil  next 
time.— 

I  have  a  piece  of  news  for  you  as  well,  though  : 
namely,  Semper  duly  arrived  here,  and  stayed  here  3 
days  ;  Sulzer  drove  up  with  a  spanking  equipage  to  fetch 
us  in  state.  Everybody  was  delighted  with  him  [Semper]  ; 
he  had  a  conference  with  Escher  and  the  President  of  the 
School  Council,  all  of  whom  received  him  most  flatter- 


150  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

ingly.  I  think  he'll  probably  accept  the  post  [Poly- 
technic], but  stand  out  for  a  fixed  salary  of  6,000  fr. 
The  gentlemen  seem  very  glad,  for  everything  depends  on 
their  securing  a  celebrity  to  start  with. 

Semper  pleased  me  greatly  ;  he  was  in  very  good 
spirits,  almost  jovial,  and  as  delighted  as  a  child  with 
everything.  Unfortunately  I  wasn't  quite  up  to  the  mark 
during  his  stay  ;  the  Fohn  was  blowing,  and  you  know 
my  nerves  are  always  unstrung  then.  Still,  the  weather 
kept  fair,  and  yesterday  we  took  Semper  to  Horgen, 
where  we  gave  him  a  small  banquet  ;  after  which  he  went 
on  from  there  with  Klapperbein  to  inner  Switzerland,  to 
travel  home  by  that  detour. — He  sends  you  his  kindest 
regards,  also  his  wife's.— 

Otto  Kummer  also  wrote  me  the  other  day  from 
Dresden,  craving  my  intervention  with  Schindelmeisser, 
as  there  was  a  good  vacancy  at  Darmstadt  for  a  violinist, 
and  he  would  like  to  have  the  berth.  I  have  done  it,  and 
accordingly  the  Kummers  will  transfer  themselves  to 
Darmstadt,  not  to  Zurich. 

Franziska's  wedding  has  also  taken  place  ;  the  blush- 
ing pair  are  going  to  Weimar,  where  he  [Alex.  Ritter] 
has  obtained  a  violinist-berth  through  Liszt. — I  shall 
write  to  Liszt  soon,  by  the  way,  touching  an  opera- 
performance  [for  you]  ;  I  will  announce  you  shortly,  too, 
to  Schmidt  of  Frankfort.  To  the  Frominann  I  wrote  the 
very  day  of  your  departure.— 

Within  the  next  few  days  I  must  also  be  receiving 
money,  when  I'll  send  you  another  10  louis  at  once. 

What  gladdens  me  most,  is  that  your  reports  on  your 
health  are  turning  out  so  well  :  they  give  me  fixed  hope 
that  the  whole  journey  will  do  you  a  world  of  good  ;  and 
then  you  shall  have  it  with  me  here  as  in  Heaven, 


ZURICH    PERIOD  151 

nothing    but    bliss   and   delight  ! — What  do  you   say    to 
that? 

(Sulzer  dragged  us  up  the  Uetli  also  ;  moreover,  we 
dined  with  him  once — I  and  Semper — at  Bellevue  !) 

I  haven't  set  eyes  on  the  Wesendoncks  again  since  the 
outing  ;  but  of  course  they  would  send  you  their  greetings. 
Tomorrow  I  shall  tell  them  I've  taken  it  upon  myself. — 

The  house  is  going  on  quite  well.  I  am  sorry  on  the 
whole  for  Nette,  as  she  really  hasn't  one  acquaintance  to 
keep  her  company.— 

Now,  send  another  good  account  soon,  greet  Wolframs 
and  the  old  folk  from  all  my  heart,  and  remain  faithful  to 

Thy 

quite  good  again 

HUBBIE. 

70. 

ZURICH,  ?  September  1854. 

YOU  GOOD  PARTRIDGE  WlFE, 

I  really  must  be  sending  you  another  keeper's- tip 
at  last  ! — Hearty  thanks  for  your  letter  and  presents  ; 
they  delight  and  reassure  me  greatly,  especially  the  news 
of  your  health.  It  was  quite  right  of  Clare  to  disabuse 
you  at  once  of  your  hallucination  about  your  looks  ;  I  was 
also  very  glad  to  learn  that  she  remains  the  same  old  girl — 
or  young  one,  as  you  will — in  everything  ;  thus  you  perhaps 
may  inveigle  her  into  a  visit  to  ourselves  in  Switzerland 
some  day.  Ply  her  hard  with  it  in  my  name  ;  I  really 
should  be  very,  very  glad  to  have  her  here  for  once,  of  all 
our  family. 

Things  still  go  tranquilly  at  home.  I'm  overtaxing 
myself  with  my  work,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  as  I  do  so  want 
to  get  the  fair  copy  of  the  score  \Rheingold\  quite  finished, 


152  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

to  have  one  thing  wholly  off  my  hands.  So  I  write  for 
another  couple  of  hours  after  dinner  each  day  now,  and 
again  when  I  come  in  of  an  evening.  I  can  stand  it, 
however,  if  I  only  get  passable  sleep  at  night.  Practically 
all  my  life  is  spent  with  our  animals,  and  most  of  my 
talking  too.  In  return  they  have  repeatedly  given  me 
trouble  of  late.  Several  times  has  Peps  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  get  out  of  his  basket  the  wrong  side  and  lose 
himself  between  the  beds,  where  I've  heard  him  pitifully 
whining  till  I  pulled  him  out  by  the  tail  ;  he  passed  half 
the  night  like  that  once,  before  I  discovered  what  was  up. 
The  other  day,  tho',  he  gave  me  a  regular  fright  on  our 
walk  :  he  was  dawdling  behind  and  seemed  suddenly 
seized  with  fierce  cramps,  for  he  wriggled  round  and 
round  and  couldn't  keep  on  his  legs  :  then  I  see  him 
choking  terribly,  and  thrown  into  convulsions  again  and 
again  by  it  ;  at  last  he  vomits  up  a  bone — as  large  as  my 
fist — which  the  glutton  had  swallowed  !  It  was  a  long 
time  before  he  came  quite  to  himself  again.  However, 
he  is  frisky  enough  now,  and  as  soon  as  it  is  getting  on 
for  -|  past  i  nothing  will  pacify  him  till  he  drives  me  to 
table. 

Jacquot,  too,  has  given  me  a  great  shock  !  Manifestly 
the  good  bird  misses  you  very  much,  and  so  it  may  have 
occurred  to  him  that  you  were  still  lying  abed  :  at  one 
swoop  he  flies  through  all  the  rooms  into  the  bedroom, 
precisely  in  which  the  windows  stood  wide  open  ;  you 
may  imagine  how  I  rushed  after  him,  and  what  a  scream 
I  uttered  !  Luckily  lie  alighted  on  the  chair  in  front  of 
your  bed,  giving  me  time  to  close  the  windows.  That, 
also,  shall  not  occur  again  ! 

There  you  have  pretty  well  my  whole  budget  of  news  ; 
I  hear  very  little  from  without.  The  other  day  lyiszt 


ZURICH    PERIOD  153 

sent  me  an  enormous  medallion  of  himself,  by  Rietschel  ; 
but  where  am  I  to  bestow  all  the  Liszts  ?  There  are  4  of 
him  now  !  I  have  still  to  hear  some  sense  from  Germany  ; 
God  knows  what  will  come  of  that  business  with 
Berlin  !— 

I  am  delighted  to  be  able  to  send  you  another  10 
louis  d'or  now  ;  you  receive  them  piping  hot,  just  as  I 
had  them  from  Mainz  for  the  Tannhauser.  Only  don't 
go  buying  too  many  cashmere  waistcoats,  but  amuse 
yourself  some  other  way  !  If  you  return  quite  fresh  and 
well,  and  in  good  spirits,  I'd  rather  have  that  than  any- 
thing.— 

I  suppose  you'll  be  unable  to  tell  me  about  your 
return-journey  by  Weimar  and  Frankfort  till  later  ;  in  my 
turn,  I  will  then  address  myself  to  those  concerned. 

Boom  is  nowhere  to  be  seen  ;  he  is  composing  a  grand 
sonata  now,  and  probably  won't  reappear  before  it's 
finished.  Sulzer  and  I  shall  doubtless  meet  at  Wesen- 
doncks'  tomorrow — Sunday — for  dinner.  They  send 
very  kind  regards  ;  I  have  to  keep  them  well-informed 
about  you. 

Your  last  letter  from  Zwickau  is  still  being  aired  ; 
the  partridges  had  become  rather  piquant,  and  strongly 
perfumed  the  beautiful  paper.  Nevertheless  they — the 
partridges — tasted  excellent,  arid  effected  most  agreeable 
digestion. 

Hitherto  our  weather  had  been  extraordinarily  fine  and 
warm,  so  that  I  was  able  to  do  plenty  of  bathing  still  ; 
but  autumn  has  appeared  the  last  2  days  :  together  with 
it  an  account  for  firing  from  Pastor  Schweizer.  So  winter 
is  stealing  on  ;  we  will  pass  it  right  comfortably  and 
workfully.  The  birthday  shall  be  held  on  our  wedding- 
day. 


154          RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

I  think  it  highly  wrong  of  them,  to  have  given  you  no 
serenade  at  Chemnitz  ;  report  it  to  the  musical  authorities 
there. 

What  you  told  me  of  Wolfram's  appearance  and  home 
has  delighted  me  much  ;  Lord,  one's  little  mite  of  house- 
hold comfort,  after  all,  is  everything  one  has.  That  also 
is  why  /  furnished  34  rooms,  as  of  course  you're 
aware  ! 

Apropos,  did  you  receive  my  last  letter  to  Chemnitz  f 
I  have  my  qualms  about  its  address.  Nette  thought  the 
post-office  people  would  be  making  remarks  on  the 
number  of  gentlemen  my  wife  was  keeping  company 
with,  first  a  Herr  Dr.  Troger,  then  a  Herr  Wolfram. 

Now,  only  keep  well  and  in  good  humour  ;  every- 
thing else  is  going  quite  well.  Give  a  thousand  hearty 
greetings  to  Wolfram  and  all  his  family,  with  my  good 
old  faithful  Clare  at  the  top  !  !  ! 

Farewell,  and  greet  the  parents  too.  Get  hale  and 
hearty  !  Adieu. 

Thy 

R. 

71. 

ZURICH,  30.  September  1854. 

O  you  hasty,  unjust,  mistrustful,  in  a  word — bad 
woman  ! 

It  is  quite  in  the  order  of  things  that  you  should 
write  me  very  often,  since  you  are  reaping  experiences 
and — even  if  unimportant — they  give  you  something 
fresh  to  relate,  were  it  no  more  than  how  you  fare  upon 
your  wanderings.  But  if  I  bring  it  off  seldomer,  it  is 
purely  since  I'm  reaping  no  experience  at  all,  everything 
continues  in  the  same  old  groove,  and  with  the  best  will 


ZURICH    PERIOD  155 

I've  nothing  to  report  to  you,  consequently  the  utmost  I 
can  do  is  to  attest  my  satisfaction  if  I  learn  from  you  that 
you  are  feeling  well.  In  my  very  last  letter  I  could 
really  tell  you  almost  nothing  but  about  the  dog  and  bird  : 
nothing  else  occurs  to  me.  My  life  is  running  on  com- 
pletely inwardly,  you  see  ;  and  with  me  that  finds  its  fittest 
record  in  my  works.  I  am  purely  a  worker;  if  I  don't  or 
cannot  work,  I  feel  unwell,  and  my  thoughts  keep  hanker- 
ing after  work  again. 

For  that  matter,  I  haven't  had  much  mood  for  com- 
position all  this  month  ;  I  have  finished  the  fair  copy  of 
the  Rheingold  score  instead,  to  get  that  altogether  off  my 
hands  at  last  :  Liszt  will  receive  the  whole  of  it  shortly. 
Only  now  have  I  resumed  the  second  act  of  Walkiire  ; 
yesterday  when  I  got  your  somewhat  mistrustful  letter, 
I  was  on  the  point  of  composing  Fricka's  entry  ;  it  wasn't 
at  all  a  bad  match.  You  consider,  though,  that  I'm 
working  all  this  out  for  no  one  but  myself :  it  may  turn 
out  so,  too — and  yet  I'd  rather  cease  to  live,  than  not  be 
working  at  a  thing  like  this.  So  you  must  grant  me 
just  this  sort  of  work  ;  for  the  Leipzig  market  and  so 
forth,  once  and  for  all,  I  shall  compose  nothing  more. 
Others  enough  are  attending  to  that.— 

So — what  am  I  really  to  write  to  you  of?  I  have 
absolutely  nothing  to  tell  you  of  myself,  saving  that  late 
in  the  afternoon  I  take  my  lonely  walk,  and  then  come 
home  again,  or  look  in  for  a  moment  at  Wesendonck's 
first.  There  you  have  all.  The  household  otherwise  is 
going  on  quite  regularly  ;  I  have  nothing  to  com- 
plain of. 

Believe  me,  the  only  thing  to  interest  me,  is  how  you 
are  entertaining  yourself  (in  place  of  me).  I  can  easily 
understand  the  Chemnitz  visit  having  put  you  somewhat 


156  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

out  of  humour  on  the  whole.  The  whole  first  part  of 
your  holiday  has  been  spent  in  none  but  small  surround- 
ings, and  perhaps  you're  wondering  why  ?  The  more 
sensible  of  you  to  have  gone  straight  to  Berlin  now  ; 
from  our  Switzerland  one  should  only  go  to  a  very  big 
city,  as  that  affords  the  sole  true  contrast,  whereas  every- 
thing else  is  bound  to  appear  very  tame.  But  you  are  sure 
to  be  in  clover  now,  with  the  good  Frommann  ;  I  am  firmly 
convinced  she'll  devise  all  manner  of  ways  of  distracting 
you.  Besides,  she's  on  the  most  intimate  footing  with 
every  princess  in  the  world  ;  so  I  take  it  for  granted  she'll 
make  you  acquainted  with  some  of  them,  and  once  you're 
at  Court,  probably  you  will  soon  forget  our  Switzerland 
and  Zeltweg.  I  also  have  written  to  Liszt  and  Schmidt 
in  your  behalf;  they  are  to  let  you  know  direct,  if  a 
performance  [of  one  of  my  works]  is  taking  place  with 
them,  that  you  may  arrange  your  return  journey  accord- 
ingly. They're  to  write  you  to  Leipzig  (c/o  Avenarius)  ; 
that  will  be  quickest,  as  the  information  would  have  gone 
too  roundabout  a  road  if  it  had  come  through  me. 
Doubtless  you  won't  be  staying  long  in  Berlin,  as  you 
want  to  be  at  Leipzig  again  the  beginning  of  October  for 
Roschen's  debut  ;  consequently  I  have  told  Schmidt  you 
might  get  to  Frankfort  about  the  middle  of  October.— 
Schindelmeisser  has  written  me  a  deal  again  about  the 
representation  of  Lohengrin  at  Darmstadt :  now,  that  lies 
on  the  straight  road  from  Frankfort  to  Basle  ;  so,  if  it 
might  interest  you  to  see  the  Lohengrin  there  (perhaps 
for  a  comparison  with  Frankfort),  you  would  have  to 
write  me  to  that  effect  forthwith,  and  maybe  I  could 
arrange  for  you  to  witness  that  as  well.  Schindelmeisser 
would  be  highly  delighted,  of  course.— 

Now,  dear  Muzius,  under  Al wine's  lead  make  it  your 


ZURICH    PERIOD  157 

foremost  care  to  feel  quite  happy.  A  thorough  refreshing 
of  yourself  for  once  is  the  main  object  of  your  journey  ; 
therefore,  wherever  you  do  not  feel  comfortable,  you 
must  leave  at  a  moment's  notice,  and  preferably  return  to 
the  Zeltweg  and  your  good  husband. — All  send  best  love  ; 
on  your  side,  give  the  good  Frommann  my  cordial  greet- 
ings, be  merry  and — calm  :  you  can  be — and  return  in 
sound  health  !— 

Farewell,    good    old    Wife — and — na,    you    know   all 
that. 

Thy 

R. 

72. 

ZURICH,  5.  October  1854. 

DEAR  MINNA, 

Merely  a  couple  of  lines  to-day  at  random  :  I 
presume  you  are  at  Leipzig. — So  soon  as  you  know 
anything  certain  about  Frankfort,  please  write  at  once 
to  Louis  ScJiindelmeisser,  grossherzogl.  Ho/kapellmeister 
in  Darmstadt  (nice  and  distinctly),  telling  him  when 
you  can  get  to  Darmstadt.  Then  he'll  answer  you  to 
Frankfort,  whether  and  when  he  can  give  you  a  Lohengrin 
performance.  Tell  him  to  address  "  beim  Herrn  Kapell- 
meister G.  Schmidt, " —that  will  be  the  best  plan.  I 
have  provisionally  told  him  you  would  be  at  Frankfort 
toward  the  24th.— 

Liszt  has  written  me  somewhat  touchily  :  You  were 
actually  in  Germany  now  ;  were  you  going  to  leave 
Weimar  in  the  lurch  ? — His  letter  crossed  my  own, 
however,  in  which  I  had  already  acquainted  him.  Pro- 
bably you  will  have  had  word  from  him  by  now  ;  but  in 
any  case  you  must  visit  him. — 

Schmidt  has  written  you  also,  has  he  not  ? — 


158          RICHARD   TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Your  being  troubled  with  a  complaint  of  the  eyes 
has  greatly  distressed  me  ;  it  gave  me  quite  a  shock  when 
I  received  a  letter  in  Alwine's  hand.  It  is  to  be  hoped 
you  have  recovered  by  now.— 

My  God,  I  had  no  desire  to  make  you  heavy-hearted, 
or  debar  you  from  anything  : — but  -  -  when  you  are 
back  here  at  last — let  me  out  with  it  ! — it  will  be  just 
what  I  like.— 

However — for  that  sake  miss  nothing  which  affords 
you  pleasure — do  you  hear  ?  ? — • 

I  hope  you'll  have  also  recovered  from  the  petty 
impressions  by  now.  I  am  very  eager  for  your  next 
letter  from  Berlin. — You  will  have  seen  the  Kladderatatsch 
in  person,  won't  you  ? 

I  have  nothing  at  all  to  announce  you  from  here  ; 
nothing  ever  happens.  Herr  Dir.  Walther  passed  on  a 
long  letter  from  Julius  [a  brother  of  Wagner's]  ;  when  you 
see  the  latter,  simply  tell  him  that  nothing  would  come 
of  it.— 

Best  love  to  the  Leipzig  brood— hold  me  dear — and 
above  all,  come  back  in  perfect  health  ! 

This  the  chief  wish  of 

Thy 

R. 


73. 

ZURICH,  6.  October  1854. 

POOR  DEAR  WIFE, 

One  really  may  call  that  bad  luck  !  !  Whereas 
I  thought  I  might  assume  that  the  aim  of  your  journey 
was  fulfilling  itself  better  and  better,  that  you  were  divert- 
ing yourself,  enlivening  yourself,  and  so  reacting  bene- 
ficially upon  your  jangled  nerves,  you  are  actually  met  by 


ZURICH    PERIOD  159 

quite  special  misfortunes  ! — Going  by  Alwine's  letter,  I 
truly  did  not  take  so  serious  a  view  ;  in  fact  I  wrote  to 
Leipzig  yesterday,  because  you  said  before  that  you 
intended  being  there  this  week.  Those  lines  you'll  find 
at  Avenarius's  ;  they  consisted  chiefly  of  directions  as  to 
Darmstadt  :  but  there's  time  enough  for  that  when  you 
arrive  at  Leipzig.  It  quite  turned  my  head  to-day,  when 
I  received  your  letter  ;  naturally,  work  could  no  longer 
be  thought  of.  Still,  no  doubt  I  may  believe  you  have 
recovered  from  your  wound  :  otherwise  you  would  have 
been  unable  to  write  me  so  much  ;  accept  many  thanks 
for  it  !  Dear  Heaven,  when  ever  is  good  luck  to  hap  ? 
Really  nothing,  nothing  but  adversities  ;  and  anything 
agreeable — so  it  seems  ! — is  never  to  encounter  us  again. 
So  nothing  remains  but  to  be  glad  if  the  mischances  pass 
over  one's  head — like  the  fox  and  his  skin  ! 

But  why  on  earth  didn't  you  let  Alwine  write  at  once 
that  you  had  lost  your  money  ?  Even  in  your  own  letter 
you  don't  yet  put  it  as  if  you  really  needed  more.  You 
silly  woman,  how  could  I  think  of  leaving  you  in  such  a 
fix?  To-day  I'm  sending  you  forthwith  at  least  whatever 
I  find  possible  :  Alwine  must  surely  have  had  to  help 
you  ;  so  please  return  it  her  at  once.  — 

Ah,  my  God,  how  gladly  I  would  have  you  back 
again  soon,  and  yet  I  keep  on  wishing  you  might  not 
return  before  you've  had  some  slight  enjoyment  from  your 
journey,  before  you  have  refreshed  yourself  to  some  extent 
and  had  enough  ;  but  already  arrived  in  Berlin,  you  have 
to  make  a  fresh  start,  and  begin  picking  yourself  up  all 
over  again  !  O  you  poor  child  of  misfortune,  do  have 
good  luck  for  once  !  You  deserve  it  in  truth.  Whether 
you  will  have  obtained  it  from  precisely  Herr  Hiilsen,  I 
strongly  doubt  ;  your  question  as  to  the  reasons  why 


160  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Tannli.  hasn't  been  given  yet  must  strike  him  as  very 
naive,  since  he  knows  well  enough  that  it  all  resides  in 
our  demanding  a  summons  for  Liszt.  Certainly  I'm  being 
urged  on  all  sides  to  abandon  this  demand  at  last,  as  the 
success  of  Tannh.  is  now  assured,  even  for  Berlin,  and  I 
am  losing  a  certain  yearly  revenue  of  T,OOO  thalers  by  the 
delay.  That  may  be  all  quite  true  ;  only,  there  was  a 
time  when  people  just  as  strongly  warned  me  off,  and 
considered  the  success  of  Tannh.  as  not  assured  :  at  that 
time  it  was  decided  to  set  up  the  condition  about  Liszt  ; 
he  entered  into  it,  and  now  I  cannot  so  offend  him  as  to 
thrust  him  aside  and  disavow  him  all  at  once.  If  of  his 
own  spontaneous  motion  he  does  not  advise  me  to  depart 
from  the  old  stipulation,  I  cannot  possibly  place  him  in 
the  false  position  of  looking  like  a  man  who  had  imposed 
himself  upon  me. — That,  dear  Minna,  you  surely  will  see 
for  yourself,  and  I  therefore  assume  that  you  will  under- 
take and  utter  nothing  that  stands  in  contradiction  with 
my  friendship.  It  would  be  another  matter,  if  you — or 
better  still,  Alwine — could  represent  the  actual  state  of 
things  to  Liszt  in  such  a  fashion  that  he  felt  bound  to 
withdraw  of  his  own  accord  :  but  even  that  can't  be  done 
without  offence  to  him,  and  it  would  still  be  the  most 
rational  course  if  Liszt  were  really  summoned.— 

He  wrote  me  rather  touchily,  that  you  were  positively 
now  in  Germany  :  would  you  not  be  coming,  then,  to 
Weimar?  However,  I  had  written  him  already.  You 
must  visit  him,  whatever  you  do. — Schmidt,  I  expect, 
will  only  be  able  to  give  you  the  Tannh.  ;  the  more 
reason  for  your  working  in  Lohengrin  at  Darmstadt  : 
simply  write  to  Schindelmeisser  from  Weimar.— 

Your  having  visited  your  supposed  arch-enemy  at 
Waldheim  doesn't  at  all  astonish  me  in  you  ;  for  I  know 


ZURICH    PERIOD  161 

you,  you  see  !  Your  heart  is  broader  and  more  compre- 
hensive than  your  insight  into  the  essence  of  characters 
which  by  all  means  must  strike  you  as  strange  and 
repugnant,  because  one  cannot  expect  you  women  to  take 
in  the  things  of  this  world  with  so  far-reaching  and 
assimilative  a  gaze  as  belongs  for  certain  to  the  man  —  the 
poet.  That  your  magnanimous  heart  (which  you  think  fit 
to  call  stupid  and  weak  !)  finally  raises  just  yourself  above 
many  ordinary  women,  I  have  experienced  often  enough 
before  not  to  be  surprised  in  this  instance.  But  on  the 
other  hand,  that  you  do  not  supplement  this  noble  feature 
of  your  heart  by  greater  insight,  for  example  to  provide 
you  with  a  more  benignant  verdict  on  sundry  matters  in 
my  past  —  it  is  just  this  I  must  often  deplore,  and  for  your 
own  sake  also,  I  believe,  since  you  rob  yourself  of  far  too 
much  peace  of  mind  through  so  much  opposition.  —  How- 
ever, your  visiting  Rockel  was  gallant  and  fine  of  you. 
Your  accounts  of  him  do  not  surprise  me  ;  he  has  a 
nature  firm  as  iron.— 

Now  afford  me  the  great  delight  of  telling  me  right 
soon  you're  feeling  well  and  happy  ;  if  my  wishes  can 
assist  you  to  it,  be  assured  they  issue  from  the  fulness  of 
my  heart  sincere  and  warm  !— 

Salute  dear  good  Alwine  quite  alarmingly  from  me  ; 
I  hope  to  see  her  here  next  year  !  —  Farewell,  dear  good 
Minna  ;  be  of  good  cheer  ! 

Thy 


You  are  receiving  50  thalers  to-day  ;  write 
me  by  return  whether  you  can  manage  with 
them,  that  I  might  send  on  more.  Deny 
yourself  nothing,  simply  ask  !  ! 

VOL.    i  ii 


163  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

74. 

[Circa  Oct.  20,  1854.] 

O  YOU  GAD-ABOUT  !  ! 

Best  thanks  for  your  letter  from  Weimar  to  hand 
to-day.  Your  accounts  of  the  Flying  Dutchman  [Oct.  15] 
and  singer  Milde  delighted  me  much,  but  also  increased 
my  longing  to  make  music  again  in  my  own  way  for 
once  !  My  residence  for  such  a  length  of  time  in  Zurich 
really  is  a  calamity  which  at  last  becomes  too  appreciable 
to  be  fought  down  and  repressed  by  nothing  but  proud 
resignation.  I  confess  that,  if  the  Grand  Duke  of  Weimar 
were  this  day  to  obtain  me  permission  to  live  in  his  small 
country  unmolested,  probably  I  should  not  reflect  long 
before  availing  myself  of  that  permission  to  choose  the 
neighbourhood  of  Weimar,  where  a  little  music  really 
could  be  plied  from  time  to  time.  Yourself,  too,  you 
have  often  expressed  to  me  the  wish  to  settle  in  Thur- 
ingia  ;  perhaps  it  would  be  the  only  migration  you  would 
care  to  join  in  now,  though  I  should  have  to  admit  the 
justice  of  your  otherwise  wishing  to  remain  where  we  are. 
—If  you  agree  with  me  in  this,  and  should  you  likewise 
think  it  wishful  for  us  to  settle  in  some  place  where  I  to 
some  extent  could  have  the  artistic  means  for  my  en- 
deavours near  me,  then  I  would  give  you  full  authority  to 
discuss  exhaustively  with  Liszt  the  measures  for  obtaining 
that  permission.  In  my  opinion  there  would  be  nothing 
else  to  do,  than  for  the  Grand  Duke  to  beg  permission  for 
me  to  reside  undeterred  in  his  country  direct  from  the 
present  King  of  Saxony,  whilst  /  in  turn  should  pledge 
myself  not  to  quit  his  country  without  the  Grand  Duke's 
consent.  At  the  same  time  I'm  prepared  to  give  a  solemn 
promise  never  to  engage  in  politics  again  ;  only,  they 
would  have  to  dispense  me  from  any  humiliating  and 


ZURICH    PERIOD  163 

easily  misrepresentable  declaration  anent  the  past.  If 
Liszt  deemed  it  right,  you  might  even  seek  an  audience 
of  the  Grand  Duke  yourself,  or  at  least  the  Grand 
Duchess,  with  this  intent. — In  any  case  I  lay  stress  on 
this  subject.— 

Do  not  wonder  at  my  stepping  forth  with  such  a  thing 
so  suddenly,  and  do  not  believe  that  it's  only  to-day  it 
has  passed  through  my  head.  It  is  a  feeling  I  long  have 
harboured,  that  without  any  stimulus  whatever  for  my  art 
I  should  be  unable  in  time  to  go  on  here.  You  know 
how  of  late  years  I  had  kept  nursing  the  hope  that  some- 
thing might  be  done  for  music  after  all  here  :  upon  my 
side,  in  truth,  I've  spared  no  efforts  for  it.  The  result, 
however,  shews  there's  nothing  to  be  attempted  with 
these  people  here  ;  I  shall  even  be  unable  to  conduct 
another  symphony  this  winter  !  *  As  long  as  I  wrote 
books  here,  and  then  poetry,  it  could  be  put  up  with  ; 
but  for  the  past  twelvemonth,  ever  since  I  began  com- 
posing again,  this  utter  lack  of  stimulus  was  bound  to  end 
by  thoroughly  depressing  me.  I  feel  that  plainly  with 
my  present  work, — I  remark  that  zest  for  it  is  constantly 
harder  to  come  by,  and  am  afraid  lest,  if  things  are  to  go 
on  much  longer  like  this,  I  shall  be  giving  up  music 
again.  It's  too  severe  on  me  ! — 

Well,  the  only  thing  against  such  a  removal  would  be 
its  running  counter  to  your  wish,  and  your  preferring  to 
remain  here  ;  for  you  have  gone  through  so  much  with 
me,  I  confess,  that  in  such  things  now  I  leave  the  casting 
vote  with  you.  Wherefore  I  want  you  not  to  bring  me 


*  Nevertheless  in  the  early  part  of  1855,  before  leaving  for  London,  he 
conducted  five  orchestral  concerts  of  the  Zurich  musical  society,  giving  his 
Faust  overture  at  two  of  them,  also  a  stage-performance  of  Tannhiiuser  j 
see  Life,  vol.  v. — Tr. 


1 64  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

any  sacrifice  against  your  feeling  ;  for,  if  I  knew  that  you 
would  rather  stay  here,  rest  assured  it  would  be  the 
definitive  reason  for  my  continuing  to  make  this  place 
endurable  to  me.  So,  only  in  case  you  entirely  and 
gladly  concur  with  me.  Should  that  be  so,  I  beg  you  to 
regard  yourself  as  my  plenipotentiary,  and  go  at  any  rate 
to  the  Grand  Duchess.* — Be  assured  that  on  this  point  I 
implicitly  confide  in  your  understanding  and  insight ! 

Regarding  the  Berlin  production  of  Tannhauser,  too, 
you  have  done  perfectly  right  ;  none  but  you,  for  sure, 
could  have  taken  the  matter  in  hand  :  not  I.  Doubtless 
Liszt  feels  sore  about  it :  if  he  retreats  [he  thinks],  he'll 
really  be  ashamed  ;  the  decision  to  do  so  must  therefore 
come  as  altogether  from  himself.  Certainly  the  necessity 
of  looking  out  for  revenue  compels  me  to  want  to  see  that 
production  hastened  ;  why  should  I  seek  to  conceal  it  ? 
The  delay  with  Berlin  brings  all  the  other  block  about  ; 
just  as,  on  the  contrary,  Berlin's  example  will  quickly 
draw  the  others  after.  Now  all  are  dawdling  :  Munich, 
Hanover,  Stuttgart,  and  so  on.  If  Liszt  could  only  find 
another  remedy,  I'd  gladly  go  on  waiting. — L/et  this 
affair  as  well,  however,  be  committed  entirely  to  you.— 

For  the  rest,  it's  very  wrong  of  you  to  try  and  make 
your  poor  old  husband  so  conceited,  with  your  fairy-tales 
that  homage  done  to  me  as  artist  should  also  be  taken  as 
intended  for  my  person.  It  isn't  at  all  right  of  you  to 
stuff  me  up  like  that,  for  it  hadn't  entered  my  head  until 
now  ;  I  considered  my  beautiful  person  quite  out  of  the 

*  Minna  had  in  fact  forestalled  her  husband's  wish  to  some  extent 
already,  since  at  this  moment  she  was  really  in  Dresden  as  bearer  of  a 
letter  from  the  Weimar  Grand  Duke  to  the  new  King  of  Saxony  ;  for  which 
endeavour,  as  also  for  her  efforts  at  intermediation  between  Berlin  and 
Weimar  re  the  Berlin  Tanuhciuser,  see  her  long  letter  to  Hiilsen  of  a  fort- 
night later,  from  Zurich,  reproduced  in  Life  iv. — Tr. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  165 

game,  and  sufficient  for  no  one  but  you.  But  I  fancy, 
best  Muzius,  you  are  mistaken  this  time  !  Never  mind, 
I  must  indulge  you  in  that.— 

For  to-day  my  very  best  farewell  !  All  send  you 
their  greetings,  though  for  long  I've  seen  no  one.  Most 
cordial  greetings  to  Liszt  and  his  house.  You  don't  say 
a  word  as  to  whether  Liszt  received  the  score  of  "  Rhein- 
gold  "  ?  Please  ask  him  at  once.  I'm  anxious  about  it, 
you  know  ;  neither  has  Biilow  announced  its  receipt  — 
Greet  Milde  too,  the  Kapellmeisterin  and  the  Child  [Psses 
Wittgenstein].  Many  hearty  kisses  from  Thy 

HUSBAND. 

75. 

PARIS,  Thursday  the  is t  March  1855. 

O  YOU  POOR  GOOD  WlFE, 

Ah,  and  your  poor  stupid  husband  !  Even  at 
Baden  I  wished  to  turn  back  ;  then  at  Basle, — and  most 
of  all  here  in  Paris  !  My  home-sickness  is  scarce  to  be 
conquered,  and  it's  probably  that  which  is  making  me 
quite  ill. — Not  till  u  o'clock  on  Tuesday  night  did  I  get 
to  my  hotel  ;  I  took  a  back  bedroom  in  the  H6tel  Mont- 
morency  for  sake  of  the  quiet  boulevard  :  sleep  wasn't  to 
be  thought  of  that  night  (any  more  than  in  the  coach 
on  the  preceding  one)  !  Yesterday  I  felt  so  bad,  in  con- 
sequence, that  a  resumption  of  my  journey  on  Thursday 
was  quite  out  of  the  question  ;  and  as  I  durst  not  go  to 
London  on  a  Friday,  I  suppose  it  will  be  Saturday  before 
I  reach  my  destination.  I  passed  the  whole  day  yesterday 
trying  to  sleep  ;  I  didn't  go  out  till  late,  didn't  find  Kietz 
in,  and  mean  to  look  him  up  to-day.  Last  night  was 
rather  better.  Ah,  if  only  I  were  at  least  back  at  my 
work,  from  which  I've  been  withheld  so  long  !  Really, 


i66  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

all  I  care  about  in  London  is  the  hope  of  getting  back  to 
work  there  very  soon.— 

I  feel  as  in  a  dream  ;  not  a  thought  can  I  grasp, 
except  the  thought  that  my  going  to  London  is  in  fact  an 
awful  sacrifice  ! — 

And  you,  poor  woman,  are  left  alone  again  !  Hold  me 
tight  another  time,  that  I  don't  get  carried  off  again  ! 
Yes,  I'm  sorry  for  you  as  well  :  you  will  have  to  do  your 
best  with  Beaky  [ "  Knackerchen  "  =  Jacquot]  ;  Peps  will 
hardly  be  of  much  assistance.  Ach,  Ach,  Ach  !  ! — 

Now  I'll  go  and  hunt  up  my  Parisians  ;  perhaps  I 
shall  write  you  more  sensibly  tomorrow.  To-day  I'm 
still  quite  sleep-starved  and  upset  ;  you  know  that  nasty 
feeling  !— 

Farewell,  dear  good  Wife  !  Be  tranquil,  and  reflect  : 
"  God  knows  the  good  it  may  lead  to  !  "  That's  what 
I  mean  to  think  myself,  and  see  how  far  I  get  with  it  ! 

Heartiest  greetings  to  our  friends  ;  I  hadn't  time  to 
telegraph  at  Basle,  or  I  should  have  sent  you  another 
Adieu. 

Adieu,  console  yourself  as  well  as  you're  able,  and — 
wish  me  better  humour  too  ! 

Lord,  if  I  had  to  conduct  to-day  !  I'm  only  glad  I've 
hardly  promised  anything  as  yet,  and  particularly  nothing 
from  Tannhauser  ! 

Farewell,  and  hold  me  thoroughly  dear  for  once  !  ! 

Thy 

RlCHEL. 

76. 

LONDON,  Tuesday,  6.  March  1855. 
22.  Portland  Terrace,  hcgcnts  Park. 

Well,  I've  shaken  down,  dear  Mietzel.  The  first 
morning  that  I  can  pass  in  peace — for  many  days — I 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  167 

mean  to  devote  forthwith  to  writing  you  a  bit  more 
rationally  than  hitherto  could  be  the  case.  I'm  full  of 
tales  to  tell  you,  even  if  nothing  at  all  extraordinary. 

You  know  I  didn't  mean  to  travel  on  Friday,  but  not 
to  leave  Paris  till  Saturday  ;  neither  did  I  catch  sight  of 
our  old  friends  till  very  late.  Kietz  doesn't  seem  to  be  on 
very  good  terms  with  his  concierge  :  even  the  next  day  he 
hadn't  shewn  her  his  face,  and  hadn't  had  my  note  at  all  ; 
not  finding  him  in  again,  I  left  stricter  orders.  At  last  I 
got  sight  of  the  foolish  young  man  and  his  friend  Linde- 
mann  the  evening  of  the  second  day.  He  was  in  the 
thick  of  a  money-lending  trouble  with  his  tailor  again— 
of  course — but  he  and  Lindemann  refused  to  hear  of  not 
treating  me  and  Anders  at  their  restaurant  the  last  even- 
ing. Anders  has  become  incredibly  childish  ;  he  can't 
trust  himself  to  cross  a  boulevard  now,  but  waits  for  an 
omnibus  to  arrive  and  take  him  over  ;  he  had  fallen  down 
in  the  Bibliotheque  a  few  days  previously,  smashed  his 
glasses,  etc.,  a  regular  to-do. 

This  time  I  saw  the  Rachel  also,  in  Cinna :  it  was 
really  instructive  to  get  such  a  notion  of  that  kind  of 
virtuosity  ;  she  pained  me  greatly.  With  her  acting, 
even  if  the  lady  sang  like  a  goddess,  I  couldn't  use  her  for 
any  of  my  operas.  More  by  mouth  on  that  another  time, 
when  I  get  back.— 

The  journey  to  London  went  off  quite  safely.  The 
passage  from  Calais  to  Dover  lasted  only  two  hours,  with 
good  weather  ;  though  I  felt  a  little  bad,  and  was  obliged 
to  lie  down.  At  Dover,  stupidly  enough,  we  had  to  wait 
2-i  hours  before  the  train  moved  off. 

It  is  singular  that  I  should  have  bad  weather  all  the 
time  in  Paris,  whereas  I  arrived  in  ill-reputed  London 
with  a  beautiful  clear  sky.  The  cabman  took  a  whole 


i68  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

hour  driving  me  from  the  station  to  Praeger's,  and  that  at 
a  sharp  trot  ;  I  might  equally  have  driven  all  the  way 
from  Zurich  to  Dr.  Wille's  at  Mariafeld.  It's  a  horribly 
big  city,  and  so  far  as  size  goes,  Paris  is  a  mere  hamlet  in 
comparison  ! — As  I  wrote  you  yesterday  [a  missing  letter], 
Praeger  has  been  very  friendly  and  obliging  ;  but  he  at 
once  explained  to  me  that,  if  I  wanted  peace,  I  must  pay 
my  visits  quickly  to  begin  with.  I  complied,  and  we 
drove  about  London  as  if  it  would  never  end  ;  Praeger 
accompanied  me,  and  consequently  made  a  sacrifice  of  his 
precious  lesson-hours.  By  dinner-time  yesterday  we  got 
finished  at  last  ;  then  we  hunted  for  lodgings,  and  found 
one  I  like  very  much,  where  I  hope  to  work  quite  quietly 
and  undisturbed — which  is  still  the  main  affair  with  me, 
whereas  the  concerts  are  really  the  secondary.  So  I  am 
living  on  the  skirt  of  one  of  the  most  beautiful  parts 
of  Regentspark,  not  at  all  far  from  the  Animal-garden  : 
in  front  of  the  house  a  little  garden  down  to  the  street, 
and  across  the  road  the  fine  trees  of  the  park  ;  so  that  I 
may  look  joyfully  forward  to  Spring,  when  it  all  will  grow 
nice  and  green.  God  knows  it  needs  such  hopes,  too,  for 
me  to  tolerate  the  prospect  of  spending  four  whole  months 
here  on  a  task  so  wholly  foreign  to  me.  If  I  can  only  get 
done  with  my  work  \Walkure\,  so  as  to  be  able  to  begin 
the  Young  Siegfried  at  once  on  the  dear  Seelisberg,  I 
shan't  so  much  mind. 

But  my  lodging  naturally  isn't  cheap  ;  it  costs  tzvo 
pounds  a  week.  Still,  an  agreeable  abode  is  really  my 
principal  aim,  else  I  couldn't  hold  out  here  ;  I  mean 
to  save  in  other  ways.  For  the  present  I  still  go  to 
Praeger  for  my  meals,  as  he  lives  only  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  off — a  cat's  jump  here  ;  how  to  arrange  it  later  we 
shall  see.  Mr.  Anderson  promptly  invited  me  to  a  big 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  169 

banquet  of  the  Queen's  Band  on  Thursday  ;  which  I 
declined  with  due  thanks.  In  general  I  mean  to  abide 
by  it  :  I  conduct  my  concerts,  but  there's  an  end  ! 
These  people  shall  see  that  I'm  even  more  of  an  English- 
man than  themselves.  I  am  in  much  dread  of  the 
concerts  themselves,  however  ;  the  orchestra,  though  very 
good,  is  said  to  be  completely  unable  to  play  piano ; 
nothing  but  _//;/'&?,  without  any  nuance.  It  is  also  correct, 
that  they  have  only  one  rehearsal,  and  at  that  two 
symphonies,  two  overtures,  and  the  other  concerted  pieces 
are  played  through  every  time.  How  am  I  to  do  any- 
thing with  it? — When  I  enquired  after  the  programme 
for  the  first  concert,  the  first  joy  they  gave  me  was  their 
having  chosen  Lachner's  "  Prize  Symphony  "  as  novelty  ! 
No,  I  struck  that  off  at  once,  and  told  the  gentlemen  they 
mustn't  expect  me  to  handle  such  rubbish.  Of  course  the 
foolish  devils  recognised  their  error  immediately,  and 
begged  me  to  attend  a  committee  to-day,  when  they  would 
dispose  the  repertoire  entirely  according  to  my  wish.  So 
I  fancy  \ve  shall  give  a  symphony  of  Haydn's  and  the 
Eroica  or  C  minor  symphony  of  Beethoven  ;  for  the  over- 
tures they  had  already  selected  the  Magic  Flute  (to  have 
something  by  Mozart)  and  Fingal's  Cave  (to  have  some- 
thing by  Mendelssohn)  :  I  have  nothing  against  it.  Ernst 
plays  a  concerto  by  Spohr  ;  I  don't  yet  know  who  sings. 
If  nothing  happens  in  particular,  I  shall  write  you  after 
the  rehearsal  (on  Saturday)  ;  I  am  waiting  with  impatience 
for  a  letter  from  yourself  by  then.  Ah  God,  if  you  could 
only  give  me  quite  good  news,  especially  about  your  health 
and  feelings  ;  it  really  is  too  bad  that  I  should  have  to 
leave  you  by  yourself  again  ! 

Believe  me,  dear  Minna,  even  if  we  don't  quite  think 
alike  in  some  respects,    and  express  ourselves  differently 


170 

about  this  and  that  from  time  to  time,  yet  neither  of  us 
can  survey  our  life  without  seeing  how  near  we  stand  to 
one  another  through  what  great  proofs  of  love  and  staunch- 
ness in  the  most  difficult  and  often  the  most  appalling 
situations.  Only  think  of  the  memories  thronging  to  my 
mind  as  I  re-tread  this  London  where  we  roamed  in  such 
distress  and  fearing  16  years  ago  !  What  you  have  had 
to  pass  through  with  me,  has  really  been  hard  !  And 
truly,  if  I  could  make  things  altogether  smooth  and 
smiling  for  you  now,  it  certainly  would  gratify  my  inmost 
soul.  But  my  not  quite  understanding  how  to  do  so,  and 
actually  continuing  to  cause  you  worry  and  distress,  has 
come  to  be  my  singular  fate,  which  I  often  heartily 
lament  for  your  sake.  It  touched  me  very  much,  how 
hard  this  parting  came  to  you  again  ;  what  I  can  do  to 
make  the  time  of  separation  pleasant  from  afar,  be  sure  it 
shall  be  done.  Good  news  from  me,  I  know  it,  will  be 
the  liefest  to  you  :  that  I  can  only  give  you  if  I  feel  quite 
free  and  easy  at  my  work,  which  has  become  in  fact  my 
solitary  life-task  worth  the  while.  It  rejoices  me  that  you 
yourself  expect  no  more  from  hence  than  honour  and  a 
good  success  to  my  artistic  efforts,  however  restricted  the 
latter.  Rich  my  art  will  never  make  me,  and  nothing 
save  the  consciousness  of  finding  a  few  devoted  souls  can 
constitute  my  riches  ;  for  them  alone  can  I  go  on  labour- 
ing in  this  world.  In  this  sense  I  hope  to  be  able  to  give 
you  none  but  good  accounts  of  myself  ;  but  even  that  will 
depend  on  my  having  to  keep  an  eye  on  nothing  else.  I 
am  heartily  glad  to  know  that  you  nozv  think  entirely  the 
same  with  me  on  this  point  !  So — await  nothing  but 
good,  and  thus  abridge  the  time  of  severance,  just  as 
I  propose  to  by  my  darling  work  ! 

Now,  heartiest  greetings  to  our  valiant,  precious  friends. 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  171 

Give  Uncle  and  Aunt  Wesendonck,  dear  creatures,  my 
best  of  thanks  for  their  attachment.  To  the  ferocious 
Sulzer,  the  melancholy  Boom,  etc.,  convey  my  respects. 
Greet  Nette  also,  whom  I  somewhat  forgot  at  parting  ; 
which  has  remained  a  grief  to  my  remembrance.  I  often 
see  Peps  before  me  of  a  sudden,  but  always  as  he  looked 
when  young  ;  really  the  old  scamp  is  hardly  to  be  re- 
cognised. Teach  Knackerchen  the  loveliest  things,  that  I 
may  also  have  my  joy  in  him  when  I  return. — And 
so  farewell,  all  you  who  love  me  ;  I'm  ever  thinking  of 
you  here  !  Farewell,  dear  good,  much-tried  Wife  ;  take 
the  full  amount  of  joy  in  me  you  can  ;  no  one  needs  it  so 
much  as  yourself  !  Farewell,  and  hold  quite  dear 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

Only  now  have  I  learnt  the  exact  truth,  that  the 
affair  with  my  Tannhauser  overture  did  not  occur  at  my, 
but  at  the  new  Philharmonic  ;  the  conductor  was  Herr 
Lindpaintner. 

77. 

LONDON,  13.  March  1855. 

Now  I've  only  7  more  concerts  to  conduct  and  I  shall 
be  on  my  way  back  !  And  that's  the  cream  of  it  all — is 
it  not,  dear  Minna  ? 

There  you  have  my  whole  sentiments  in  half-a-dozen 
words.  — 

After  the  rehearsal  last  Saturday  it  had  become  too 
late  to  write,  so  I  determined  to  wait  and  include  the 
performance  of  Monday  [i2th].  As  a  fact  it  was  the 
rehearsal  that  gave  me  most  pleasure  ;  the  orchestra  is 
quite  distinguished  in  its  correctness  and  tone,  only  it  has 


i;2  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

been  let  run  to  seed  in  its  expression  by  bad  conductors. 
When  I  began  taking  the  Beethoven  symphony  my  way, 
it  staggered  them  all  :  I  pulled  up  frequently,  and  was 
very  strict  about  piano ;  but  I  had  the  gratification  of 
seeing  how  quickly  my  people  got  used  to  me  :  each 
succeeding  movement  went  better  and  better,  till  at  last  I 
only  needed  brief  hints  to  get  everything  in  prompt 
accordance  with  my  wish.  These  bandsmen  can  do 
anything  ;  the  wind  instruments  in  particular  are  very 
good,  and  naturally  there's  no  manner  of  question  of  such 
a  plague  as  I  have  with  the  people  at  Zurich,  for  even  the 
bassoons  are  excellent.  So  it  also  came  about  that  I 
brought  the  rehearsal  sooner  to  an  end  than  everyone  had 
feared. — On  my  presentation  to  it,  the  orchestra  received 
me  with  prolonged  applause  ;  I  got  Sainton,  the  first 
violinist,  to  return  thanks  for  me.  After  the  symphonies, 
and  finally  after  the  whole  rehearsal,  applause  broke  out 
again.— 

The  Directors  of  the  society  swam  in  bliss,  and 
assured  me  the  orchestra  had  never  played  anything  like 
so  well.  For  all  my  reluctance,  I  had  to  consent  at 
once  to  pieces  of  my  own  being  presented  at  the  very 
next  concert  ;  I  chose  the  three  pieces  from  Lohengrin 
(overture,  bridal  procession,  wedding  music  and  bridal 
chant)  ivitJi  chorus  ;  the  translation  is  being  made  already. 
They  very  much  wanted  the  NiniJi  symphony  of 
Beethoven  to  go  therewith,  and  at  last  I  consented 
because  of  our  needing  a  chorus  already,  and  also  of  my 
getting  two  rehearsals  this  time — on  account  of  my  own 
things — which  I  certainly  am  also  very  glad  of  for  the 
symphony.  Everything  went  to  shew  that  these  people's 
courage  had  been  screwed  up  several  pegs,  and  they  set 
great  hopes  on  me  for  an  unusual  success  of  their  whole 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  173 

season  of  concerts  ;   so  they  mean  to  strike  while  the  iron 
is  hot.— 

At   8   yesterday   evening   came    the    performance,    for 
which   I  was  allowed  to  appear  in  a  black  cravat  ;   only 
when  the  Queen  comes,  which  simply  happens  once  in  all 
the  season,  must  I  be  white  about  the  throat  as  well.      At 
the  beginning  of  the  performance  the  band  relapsed  into 
its    old    habit    rather    strongly,    so    that    I    felt     I    must 
work   hard    at    it   yet,  before  transforming   it    completely. 
The    Eroica,     however,     especially    the    Funeral    march, 
already  went  much   better, — of  course  I'm   only  speaking 
for  myself ;  for  the  others,  all  that  went  on  was  a  wonder. 
I  had  a  long  and  very  hearty  welcome  from  the  audience — 
much    better   than  at  Zurich  ! — the  orchestra  chimed  in 
with   loud   applause.      Every   movement    was    applauded, 
and  at  the  close  I  received  such  an  endlessly  long  ovation 
with  Bravos,  that  I  didn't  know  which  way  to  turn  with 
my  bo\vs.      The  band  has  taken  me  particularly  to  heart  ; 
many   [of  its    members]    assured    me    that    everything    I 
conducted  had  been  entirely  fresJi  to  them  ;    they  had  not 
known  tliat  before,    though  they  knew  almost  every  note 
by  heart  ;  so  they  begged  me  just  to  have  a  little  patience 
with  them  yet. — But  it  is  these  relations  with  the  orchestra 
that  also  constitute  my  only  pleasure  :    all  the  rest  leaves 
me   cold,    and   in  particular  the  audience  ;    which  distin- 
guished me  highly,    it   is  true,   but  in  whose   regard  my 
peculiar  sense   of  such    a    thing   distinctly    told    me    that 
it   can't    in   truth    be  moved ;    it   all  appears  to  me   mere 
phrase   and   fashion.      At  bottom  that's   perhaps  the  case 
with  every  audience,  in  the  bulk  ;  and  it  is  always  a  mere 
handful   of  persons    more    intimate    with    me,    for   whom 
I   make    music    from    the    depth    of  my  heart.      Those— 
I    missed   very  much   here  ;    and   not   until    I  transported 


174  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

myself  to  Zurich,  during  the  Eroica,  did  I  warm  up  and 
be  quite  Richard  Wagner.  Nevertheless,  I  appear  to 
have  made  a  great  impression  ;  Praeger  has  just  looked  in 
and  assured  me  that  everybody  who  understands  music 
was  in  great  excitement  and  had  gone  quite  crazy 
[over  me].  Well,  we  shall  see  !— 

In  my  next  letter  I'll  give  you  details  of  my  other 
conditions  of  life  here.  Unfortunately,  I  am  still  suffer- 
ing from  a  severe  cold  ;  the  climate,  with  this  awful  cold 
damp  fog,  is  very  detrimental  to  me  ;  I  can  never  get 
properly  warm  indoors,  the  rooms  are  too  badly  protected, 
and  the  fireplace  only  gives  heat  when  you're  close  to  it. 
One  has  to  spend  a  terrible  amount  of  money  !  Almost 
daily  i  schilling  for  nothing  but  coals  !  The  distances  are 
so  frightful,  that  I  can't  get  on  without  a  cab-fare  every 
day.  Half  a  bottle  of  claret  at  the  worst  restaurant 
3  schillings,  and  so  on.  But,  as  said,  upon  that  in 
my  next.  At  present  I'm  awaiting  news  from  you 
again  ;  I  was  hoping  for  it  yesterday.  Your  first  letter 
rejoiced  and  touched  me  greatly  ;  I  thank  you  for  it 
heartily,  good  woman  you  !  Upon  my  soul,  even  here 
I'm  really  still  at  home  with  you  and  our  dear  friends.  I 
also  mean  to  write  to  each  of  them  in  time.  For 
to-day  greet  all  from  all  my  heart  ;  my  homeland's  solely 
with  yourselves  !  Farewell,  dear  good  Minna  ;  soon  more 
about  my  living.  Farewell,  good  old  Wife  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

I   haven't    a   wife   here,    but    mother    and  sister  ;    for 
Praeger    mothers    me,    and    Klindworth — a     dear     young 
fellow,  just  like   Uhlich,  recommended  to   me  by  Liszt — 
sisters  me  ;   so  that  between  them  I   am  very  well  looked 
after  ! 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  175 

Semper  and  Klindworth  saw  me  home  last  evening  ; 
they  brought  wine  and  champagne  with  them,  and  we  sat 
up  till  3  in  the  night.  I'm  very  tired  to-day. — Forgive  ! 

On  Sunday  I  dined  at  Mr.  Anderson's  en  famille  ; 
your  health  was  drunk,  which  moved  me  deeply,  so 
that  I  took  a  tremendous  gulp. — Liszt  has  sent  me  no 
recommendation  to  Erard  yet ;  so  I'm  still  without  a 
piano,  and — alas — have  not  begun  to  work. 

So — farewell  once  again,  dear  old  girl  !  Give  me 
very  good  news  of  yourself,  that  my  heart  may  grow  lighter 
when  my  thoughts  fly  home.— -I'm  intending  to  make  use 
of  Wesendonck's  introduction  one  of  these  days — albeit  I 
require  nobody. 


78. 

LONDON,  (14  ?)  March  1855. 

22.  Portland  Terrace.  Regents  Park. 

Best  thanks  for  your  letters,  dear  Minna,  the  second 
of  which  I  have  this  moment  received.  Your  uneasiness 
troubles  me,  and  I  hasten  to  dispel  it,  so  far  as  in  me  lies. 
Concerning  the  first  concert  you  are  exhaustively  informed 
now  ;  I  have  nothing  to  add,  excepting  that  yesterday's 
newspapers  already  devoted  much  space  to  it.  The  re- 
porter to  the  ' '  Times, ' '  an  intimate  friend  of  Mendelssohn's, 
and  a  man  whom  every  artist  arriving  here  must  pay 
tribute  to,  if  he  isn't  to  tear  him  to  pieces,  is  furious  with 
me  ;  blind  opposition  presumably  will  go  on  that  way  for 
a  time.  Others  on  the  contrary,  for  instance  in  the 
"  Morning  Post, "  have  dilated  on  my  performance  with 
surprising  clearness,  and  paid  it  the  greatest  recognition. 
You  know  how  indifferent  I  am  to  all  of  this  ;  so  not 
another  word  aboiit  it  !  The  orchestra  is  enthusiastic  for 


176  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

me  ;  I  have  been  assured  I  could  do  what  I  liked  with  it, 
down  to  the  very  last  man.  That  remains  to  be  seen 
at  the  next  concert,  for  which  I've  two  rehearsals.— 

I  promised  to  be  rather  more  circumstantial  this  time 
about  my  mode  of  life  ;  gladly  would  I  have  done  it  in 
a  more  cheerful  temper  than  has  been  made  possible  to 
me  now  by  your  news.  Friend  Wesendonck's  fear  of  ex- 
travagances, on  my  part,  I  do  not  altogether  relish.  In 
the  first  place,  I'm  bound  to  judge  from  his  remarks  that 
he  doesn't  know  London  quite  well  enough,  at  least 
as  regards  the  conditions  under  which  it's  possible  for  me 
to  live  here  for  a  length  of  time.  The  statements  of  Frau 
Wille  and  his  own  wife,  that  200  pounds  would  only  just 
enable  me  to  live  decently  in  London  for  four  months,  in 
his  eyes  may  rank  as  exaggerations  by  those  who  under- 
stand nothing  about  it  ;  but  it  is  curious  that  I  haven't 
met  a  single  person  here  who  wouldn't  have  confirmed 
their  view  at  once,  or  didn't  smile  when  1  spoke  of 
intended  savings.  For  myself,  too,  with  my  present 
experiences  I  find  I  should  get  through  the  200  pounds 
quite  certainly  if  I  meant  to  live  without  some  sort 
of  stint  ;  but  /  mean  to  stint  myself  in  truth,  and  save 
in  any  case.  In  every  other  way  I  can  and  mean  to 
do  it,  only  in  that  of  abode  it  would  be  a  sacrifice  which 
would  render  my  endurance  here  downright  impossible. 
A  thoroughly  agreeable  dwelling-place,  cheerfully  situated 
and  with  a  little  convenience,  to  me  is  indispensable,  as  I 
shall  be  indoors  and  working  nearly  all  day  long.  There's 
not  a  hint  of  luxury  about  the  lodging  I  have  taken,  and 
if  I  were  to  draw  you  up  a  list  of  the  conveniences  I  miss 
here,  as  compared  with  home,  it  would  become  a  long 
one  ;  still,  it  attracted  me,  and  I  have  now  installed 
myself  as  comfortably  as  I  was  able.  As  regards  the 


price,  out  of  some  20  lodgings  I  looked  at  in  this  neigh- 
bourhood with  Praeger,  I  found  none  under  i^  pound, 
and  they  lacked  too  much  to  make  them  acceptable  to  me 
for  a  period  of  4  months.  Praeger  has  been  in  L,ondon 
over  20  years,  and  knows  it  very  minutely,  according  to 
the  testimony  of  everyone  ;  he  told  me  I  should  find 
no  lodging  suitable  for  me  under  i|  pound,  i  p.  15  sch., 
and  so  on.  It  pains  me  to  have  to  excuse  myself  at  such 
length  upon  this  point  ! 

It  would  be  far  worse  if  I  had  to  go  on  dining  at 
a  restaurant  ;  I  should  never  get  away  under  6  schillings, 
as  I  can  neither  drink  beer  nor  the  fiery  English  wine 
[sherry?],  and  have  always  had  to  pay  3  sch.  for  half  a 
bottle  of  French  red  wine.  I  have  tried  it  repeatedly, 
and  found  that  it  can't  be  done  cheaper.  On  the  con- 
trary, I  have  hit  on  the  expedient  of  laying  wine  in  (at  3 
sch.  the  bottle),  and  mostly  getting  my  dinner  also  cooked 
at  home  ;  which  comes  fairly  cheap,  since  they  only 
charge  me  with  the  actual  outlay.  My  dinner  then 
consists  of  soup  (the  most  expensive  item),  a  rostbeaf,  and 
Chester  cheese.  For  my  lunch  (at  i)  I  generally  send  out 
for  a  dozen  oysters.  I  fancy  I  shall  manage  cheapest 
that  way.  I  am  often  invited  out,  too  (as  yesterday  to 
Sainton's,  to-day  to  Semper's,  Sunday  to  Praeger's).  I 
couldn't  go  on  feeding  at  the  latter 's  (regularly)  since  he 
only  dines  at  home  3  times  a  week  himself,  and  even 
then  just  scampers  through  it,  as  a  rule,  at  2  o'clock  ; 
which  doesn't  suit  me.  So  the  chief  remaining  things 
are  firing  (very  dear — bat  necessary  !)  and  transport.  As 
regards  the  firing,  I  have  hopes  of  seeing  that  item  vanish 
with  the  coming  of  Spring  ;  I  shall  probably  retrench 
in  transport  also  by  degrees,  as  soon  as  I  get  to  know  the 
omnibuses  and  their  usage  better. — So — set  your  mind  at 
voi,.  i  12 


178  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

rest  about  my  extravagances  ;    I  shall  save  in  any  case — 
only,  don't  begrudge  me  my  apartment  ! 

I'm  going  to  write  to  Sulzer,  too,  to-day  :  [that] 
I  shall  try  and  make  it  possible  to  have  money  shortly 
sent  him  for  yourself ;  meanwhile  he  will  know  how  to 
assist  you  for  a  few  weeks,  so  that  you  may  fall  into  no 
difficulty  and  also  be  able  to  procure  yourself  some  fresh 
vegetables  and  meat.*— 

To  Alwine  I  likewise  am  writing  to-day,  as  also 
to  Liszt  :  [that]  this  matter  must  come  to  an  end,  and 
Hiilsen  is  to  have  the  Tannhauser.— 

(I  cannot  spare  another  score  for  private  use  ;  tell 
Hug's  that.) 

Last  night  I  dreamt  most  vividly  of  Peps  ;  he  didn't 
seem  young,  though,  but  quite  old  and  deformed,  com- 
pletely blind,  and  so  deplorable  that  I  started  out  of  sleep 
with  the  cry,  "O  you  poor  creature  !  " — In  general  I'm 
feeling  rather  tender  ;  please  send  me  right  good  tidings, 
to  help  me  hold  out.  The  new  has  little  charm  for  me, 
almost  nothing  but  disgust  now  ;  my  heart  cleaves  to 
rest,  ay,  to  the  accustomed,  because  I  have  to  keep 
experiencing  the  more  that  I'm  to  experience  nothing 
joyful  any  more.  I  feel  much  bitterness  ;  everything 
here  leaves  me  monstrous  cold  ;  unfortunately  I  see 
through  the  empty  and  hollow  too  fast  now,  and  all 
illusion  comes  harder  and  harder  to  me.  If  it  weren't 
for  my  relations  with  this  orchestra,  its  affection  and  the 
hope  of  thereby  turning  out  fine  work,  nothing,  nothing 
could  retain  me  here  ;  not  even  the — so  envied  lodging  /— 
Farewell  for  to-day,  dear  good  Wife.  Be  merrier  than  I, 

*  After  certain  comments  already  made  in  a  French  review,  I  fear 
it  is  not  quite  unnecessary  to  emphasise  the  obvious  irony  of  this  last 
clause. — Tr. 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  179 

and  perhaps  it  will  make  me  so  myself  again  !  Farewell, 
and  kind  regards  to  all.— 

I  had  to  pay  i  pound  12  schl.  for  the  box  of  music  ! 
If  Hr.  Hoffmann  had  only  addressed  it  to  his  brother  here, 
it  would  have  come  far  cheaper. — I  have  also  had  to  buy 
a  feather-bed  for  my  feet.* 

Tomorrow  I  am  to  be  driven  to  Benecke's,  to  whom 
Wesendonck  had  recommended  me  ;  my  next  letter  I 
shall  therefore  write  to  Wesendonck. — I  still  have  no 
piano  ! — (Don't  take  such  thick  paper  again,  as  the  last 
time  ;  I  had  to  pay  double  postage  for  it.)  You  see  how 
thrifty  I'm  becoming,  and  let  us  hope  you'll  rejoice  with 
W.  about  it. 

79. 

22.  PORTLAND  TERRACE.  REGENTS-PARK. 
Thursday,  the  22nd  March  1855. 

MOST    EXCELLENT    OF    ALL    WlVES, 

Since  you  will  it,    you  shall  also  have  a   letter 
from  me  to-day,  though  it  wasn't  until  yesterday  I  wrote 
to  Wesendonck — as  you  wished — and  therewith   conveyed 
to  you   pretty  well  all   that  there  was  to  report — even  if 
not   precisely  much    to  rejoice  at.      Consequently  I  have 
little  to   add  about  my  sojourn  here  to-day,  excepting— 
that  you  may  think  yourself  lucky  not  to  be  sharing  it. 
Indeed  I  should  be  unspeakably  sorry  for  you,  if  you  were 
here   with    me  now  ;    I'm   in   nothing   better   than  penal 
servitude,    and  one  pleasant  day   in  my  house  would  be 
dearer    to    me    than    all   these    indifferent    pomps    of   the 
world-city.      That  is  a  long  story,  however,  and  we'll  see 
how  I  survive  it  ;  but  in  no  case  will  it  lead  to  anything 


*  Praeger  speaks  of  "  an  eider-down  quilt  for  his  bed,"  the  requirement 
plainly  being  warmth,  as  we  shall  find  in  Venice  later. — Tr. 


i8o  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

remarkable,  and  I  stick  to  it  that  my  coming  hither  was 
a  sacrifice.  Whether  I  still  shall  give  pleasure  to  the 
gentlemen  here,  or  not,  is  quite  immaterial  to  me  ;  but 
even  that  will  not  be  much  :  there  are  too  few  rehearsals, 
the  choruses  are  miserable,  and  a  performance  of  the 
Ninth  symphony  like  that  at  Dresden  simply  isn't  to  be 
thought  of.  So  I'm  just  making  the  best  of  it,  and  have 
the  greatest  difficulty  not  to  succumb  to  a  sudden  attack 
of  Swiss  home-sickness  and  take  to  my  heels. 

My  setting  up  is  fairly  finished.  A  splendid  Hrard 
grand  has  arrived  ;  I  have  had  a  standing-desk  built  for 
me,  and  have  already  picked  up  again,  as  well  as  I  can, 
the  threads  of  my  profitless  work.  With  Economy  I'm 
also  getting  even,  by  degrees  ;  already  I  have  hopes  of 
coining  out  of  it  with  what  was  settled.  If  I'm  not 
invited  out,  I  take  all  my  meals  at  home  now,  where  I 
get  them  best  and  cheapest  ;  these  people  only  charge  me 
for  their  outlay  and  the  fire,  and  all  in  reason.  Generally 
I  eat  nothing  but  rostbeaf,  with  a  dozen  oysters  first  ;  for 
what  they  understand  by  soup  here  invariably  is  nothing 
but  an  enormously  dear  big  tureenful  of  appallingly  thick 
spiced  fluidity,  which  I  can't  endure.  For  that  matter, 
I  notice  no  great  mischief  from  the  diet  here  as  yet  ;  the 
air  is  very  healthy,  always  wind  and  sea-breezes,  so  that 
I  scarcely  can  clothe  myself  warm  enough  or  eat  to  satiety. 
I'm  wearing  double  under-hose  beneath  my  black  leg- 
garments  now. 

For  the  rest,  I  haven't  had  sight  again  of  so  much  of 
London  as  that  time  with  you  ;  it  doesn't  attract  me  at 
all.  Klindworth  has  been  and  still  is  ill  ;  when  he  is  up 
again  and  the  weather  fine,  we  mean  to  have  a  day  on 
the  Thames.  Long  excursions  into  the  country,  on  the 
other  hand,  I  probably  shall  be  unable  to  make  ;  I 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  181 

shouldn't  know  where  to  find  the  money,  if  I  mean  to 
save,  for  you  have  no  idea  at  all  of  the  expensiveness  in 
England.  How  much  dearer  everything  is  than  in  Paris, 
you  may  judge  by  my  having  to  give  2  schilling  here, 
i.e.  215-  _/;'.,  for  the  same  pastilles  de  Vichy  I  pay  i  fr.  for 
there.  An  omnibus  there  costs  6  sous — here  6  pence  ; 
exactly  as  much  again.  Yesterday  afternoon  I  paid 
another  call  on  Semper,  who  lives  an  immense  distance 
from  me,  before  his  departure  :  I  only  went  by  omnibus, 
but  had  to  take  two  different  ones  each  way  ;  making 
2  schilling — for  nothing  at  all.  By  the  by  :  Semper  will 
not  come  to  Zurich  till  summer — July  ;  he  has  work  to 
do  in  Paris  first,  for  the  exhibition.  They  have  been 
leading  a  wretched  life  here  ;  when  I  dined  with  them, 
they  ruined  my  stomach  with  pork.  To-day  I  dine  with 
that  delightful  fellow,  Sainton  ;  tomorrow  at  Benecke's, 
to  whom  I  was  introduced  by  Wesendonck.  Otherwise 
I  stick  indoors,  now  working,  then  reading.  Beyond  an 
obstinate  cold,  however,  my  health  is  passable. 

(I've  just  been  interrupted  by  a   caller,    and  so  have 
lost  the  time  to  get  this  letter  finished  before  post  ;  also, 
I  must  dress  to  go  out.      So  you'll  have  to  wait  a   day 
longer  ;  perhaps  I  may  add  something  sensible  tomorrow  !) 
And    still,   I'd  rather    try    and    wind    this    letter    up 
to-day,   that  you  may   not  have  to  wait — Sainton 's  soup 
can  wait,  for  choice.      Indeed  I  should  have  liked  to  fish 
up  this  and  that,  to  tell  you  plenty- 
Halt,    there    comes    somebody    else  !      I  can't  help  it 
now  ;   you  will  have  to  wait  until  tomorrow  !— 

I  have  just  got  home,  10  in  the  evening,  and  don't 
want  to  go  to  sleep  before  ending  my  letter,  which 
couldn't  have  gone  off  to-day  in  any  case,  since  it's  a 
great  English  Day  of  Penitence  and  Prayer  (on  account 


i8a  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

of  the  Crimea)  and  on  such  a  day  the  English  are  too 
pious  to  attend  to  their  post  after  n  in  the  morning.  I 
should  be  glad  to  report  a  great  deal  more  to  you,  as  you 
set  some  store  by  it  ;  only — God  knows — I  don't  rightly 
know  what.  You  mustn't  fret  about  the  Times  etc.  :  to 
me  their  yelling  is  terribly  indifferent  ;  I  get  a  little  of 
it  told  me,  that  is  all.  The  whole  thing  springs  from 
purely  personal  interests,  as  to  which  I'm  accurately 
informed  now  :  other  motives,  people  here  — as  mostly 
everywhere,  no  doubt — never  have.  There  is  nothing 
to  be  done  against  it,  except  to  retire  if  one  doesn't  feel 
up  to  it,  which  is  just  what  they  want  ;  as  I  do  feel  up 
to  it,  however,  I  shan't  retire  this  time,  but  let  them  go 
on  bellowing  their  nonsense  :  in  the  end — I  am  told — 
they  will  stop.  Moreover,  I  have  really  nothing  else 
in  mind  here,  and  if  I  only  were  earning  more  money, 
should  be  quite  content  ;  for  it  strictly  is  indifferent  to 
me  whether  I'm  thought  something  of  here,  when  I  see 
what  charlatans  have  been  thought  something  of  before. 
Besides,  there's  nothing  to  be  expected  even  of  the  Court  ; 
everything  is  hollow  and  rotten  there — as  I  strictly  had 
known  long  since. 

I  will  write  to  Henniger  of  Dresden  (my  haberdasher) 
and  try  to  regulate  the  old  debt.  My  last  letter  to  Liszt 
was  a  very  tough  job  for  me  :  I  know  I  am  not  pleasing 
him  with  my  decision  about  Berlin  ;  yet  it  had  to  be, 
and  the  thing  is  done.  I  wrote  the  Frommann  at  once, 
also  to  Fischer  concerning  the  score.  Hiilsen  is  to  pay 
me  an  advance  of  100  louis  d'or  on  the  tantieme,  if 
possible,  and  send  it  to  Sulzer  forthwith  :  if  he  does,  you'll 
be  well  provided  for  a  long  time.  How  and  when  I  shall 
get  my  money  here,  is  very  uncertain  still,  as  these  fees 
are  not  paid  till  the  end,  as  a  rule,  unless  one  asks  before. 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  183 

I  must  see  how  to  manage  it,  though  I  don't  quite  care 
to  dun  for  money. 

Tell  me  a  lot  about  Pepsel  and  Knackerchen  next 
time.  Odd,  but  I  really  couldn't  get  myself  a  puppy 
here  ;  it  would  strike  me  as  a  hideous  disloyalty  while 
the  good  old  chap  is  still  alive  ;  just  you  keep  him  going 
and  lively — by  diet.  So  soon  as  the  weather  turns 
warmer,  I  mean  to  visit  the  Zoological  Garden  with  its 
animals  very  often  ;  it's  not  worth  while  at  present,  as 
they  are  all  shut  up.  An  overworked  horse  dropped  dead 
before  my  eyes  the  other  day  ;  that  is  said  to  be  some- 
thing quite  usual  here  :  how  glorious  ! — There,  you  have 
your  sheetful  now,  and  it  is  late  ;  pick  out  the  best  of 
it,  be  well  and  tranquil  :  I'm  holding  out  !  Farewell, 
dear  good  old  Minna,  sore-tried  Wife,  and  hold  me  dear. 
Adieu,  Adieu  !— 

From  your  letter  of  to-day  I  see  it  only  cost  you 
55  cent.  :  here  I  have  to  pay  u  pence ;  I  should  almost 
be  inclined  to  go  on  writing  unfranked,  yet  will  buy 
myself  stamps  ;  only,  I  cannot  do  it  at  this  time,  and  a 
post-office  for  franking  will  be  too  far  out  of  my  way 
tomorrow  :  so,  pay  once  more. 

80. 

LONDON,  27.  March  1855. 

Well,  my  dear  Mienel,  I've  only  6  more  concerts  to 
conduct  !— 

From  my  rosy  paper,  for  that  matter,  you  may  judge 
that  I'm  in  better  humour  than  last  week.  Merely,  I 
am  frightfully  knocked  up  and  tired  to-day,  and  can 
undertake  nothing  beyond  writing  to  you.  True,  I'm 
hoping  for  a  letter  from  yourself  tomorrow  ;  but  it  would 
be  disgraceful  if  I  kept  you  waiting,  and  didn't  write 


184  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

you  straight  off  on  the  success  of  our  yesterday's  concert. 
Everything  went  quite  well,  and  particularly  the  pieces 
from  Lohengrin,  which  were  played  by  the  band  with 
great  affection  and  extraordinarily  finely.  But  I'll  tell 
you  my  tale  seriatim. 

The  first  part  began  with  the  "  Freischiitz  "  overture 
(which    /  hadn't    chosen,    though).       It    made    such    an 
impression,    that  it  was  demanded    ' '  da  capo ' '    at  once  ; 
so,    having  experienced   how   ill   it  was  taken  of  me  at 
Zurich  that  I  didn't  promptly  respond,   I  laid  the  good 
lesson    to  heart  and  let  the  overture  be  played  a  second 
time  :   for  which    I    also   had    the   special    reason,    that   I 
wasn't  absolutely  satisfied   with   the  first  execution,    and 
might  look  for  a  still  better  rendering  the  second  time 
(which  was  different  at  Zurich,  where  I  feared  it  wouldn't 
go  so  well  again  the  second,  as  the  first  time).      To  wind 
up  the  first  part  came  Lohengrin.      Now,  you  must  try 
and  realise  what  opinion  of  my  compositions  had  hitherto 
been  foisted  on  the  people  here,  namely  that  they  were 
a  mass  of  crazy   stuff ;    so  everybody  was  on   the  tiptoe 
of   anticipation    as   to    ivhat    particular   sort   of  nonsense 
one   was  going  to  get  :  not   a   breath  was    to   be  heard. 
Gradually   the   prelude  of  the  Holy  Grail  with  its  soft- 
ness  and   sublimity  seemed   to   transport   these  people  to 
quite  another  region  :   it  was  admirably  played — as  said 
— and  so  really  seemed   to  make  a  deep  impression  ;   long 
after    the    last    faint   tones   had   died   away,    all  remained 
still   as  a  mouse,  as  if  at  church,  till  at  last  came  quite 
a   hearty    outburst    of  applause,    which    after    the    bridal 
procession,  and  finally  after  the  wedding-music  and  bridal 
chant,    mounted    to    a   regular   storm,    so   that   I    had    to 
strew  my  obeisances  between   the  desks  on  the  platform 
for    a     considerable     time    in    no    little    embarrassment. 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  185 

Naturally  the  orchestra  joined  in  with  great  uproar,  and 
when  I  reached  the  conversation-room  the  Directors  re- 
ceived me  with  the  heartiest  delight  ;  whilst  my  friend 
Sainton  almost  burst  for  joy. — 

With  the  second  part,  the  Ninth  symphony,  a  little 
reaction  almost  set  in  ;  as  it  nearly  always  happens  to 
my  compositions,  perhaps  for  simple  reason  of  their 
colouring,  that  they  somewhat  weigh  on  what  comes 
next.  Still,  I  kept  fresh — by  dint  of  the  utmost  ex- 
ertion— and  so  did  the  orchestra,  and  the  performance 
pleased  me  after  all  ;  the  chorus  also  did  its  best  in 
the  end,  and  only  the  soloists  were  good  for  nothing. 
Again  the  orchestra  rendered  me  its  enthusiastic  thanks 
for  having  laid  open  this  work  to  it,  and  many  features 
in  the  execution  convince  me  that  I  and  my  method 
have  already  made  a  great  impression  on  the  bandsmen. 
Friend  Publicus  did  not  quite  seem  to  catch  the  drift, 
and  when  the  thing  was  drawing  to  its  close,  the  glorious 
custom  of  quitting  the  room  during  the  music  asserted 
its  right  ;  so  that  I  was  half  inclined  to  think  the 
symphony  had  failed,  if  I  hadn't  at  once  been  assured 
that  this  work  had  never  yet  appealed  here  (in  spite  of 
belief  on  Authority  !)  and  had  relatively  had  a  great 
success  this  time.  Be  that  as  it  may,  at  10  this  morning 
Herr  Benecke  came  driving  up,  to  testify — among  other 
things — that  people  here  had  never  understood  the 
symphony  before,  and  only  through  this  extraordinary 
performance  had  an  understanding  of  it  been  opened  to 
connoisseurs  themselves  ;  but  no  one,  also,  had  ever 
heard  it  given  tliat  way.  Regarding  my  own  composi- 
tions [said  B.],  they  had  decidedly  had  a  complete  and 
general  success,  and  everybody  was  astonished  at  its 
being  even  possible  to  trump  up  such  nonsense  about 


i86          RICHARD   TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

such  ' '  splendid  ' '  music  as  had  been  done  here  in  the 
newspapers.  — 

I  must  tell  you  a  few  comical  traits,  as  they  are 
characteristic  of  the  people  here.  After  the  Lohengrin 
a  local  connoisseur,  Salomon,  expressed  himself  thus  : 
"Devil  take  it,  they  say  the  fellow's  nothing  but  a 
'Humbug,'  yet  you  can  see  with  half  an  eye  there's 
genius  here  !  "  During  the  Freischiitz  overture  two 
musical  gentlemen  were  sitting  in  front  of  Klindworth  ; 
at  first  they  kept  nudging  each  other  :  at  the  Adagio 
they  shook  their  heads,  ' '  Too  slow "  ;  at  the  Allegro, 
"  Too  fast  " — then,  "Why  slow  again?"— at  last  they 
held  their  peace  a  long  while,  till  suddenly  the  one 
exclaimed,  "By  thunder,  but  it's  really  capital  !"  and 
finally  the  pair  applauded  most  enthusiastically  and 
called  "  da  capo!'1'1  —Then,  an  old  gentleman  had  brought 
the  score  of  the  Ninth  symphony  with  him,  and  he 
and  his  wife  religiously  followed  the  performance  in  it 
without  moving  a  muscle  ;  finally  comes  the  last  tempo 
of  all,  he  slams  the  book,  and  makes  straight  with  his 
wife  for  the  door  ;  so  that  it  looked  just  as  if  he  had 
been  spelling  it  all  out  to  know  the  exact  point  of  time 
one  must  be  off  to  escape  the  crowd.— 

You  see,  my  bad  temper  has  cleared  up  into  irony  : 
I  smile  more  at  these  people  now,  than  let  them  vex 
me,  but  hold  of  course  to  my  opinion  that  it  remains 
a  hollow  business  with  the  public  proper  ;  single  very 
warm  and  sincere  protestations  of  friendship  have  to 
indemnify  me  for  what  I  really  have  faith  in  no  longer. 
Before  the  last  rehearsal,  however,  I  had  grave  fears 
about  the  performance,  and  on  Saturday  I  made  an 
awful  victim  of  myself  to  be  rid  of  those  fears.  I  had 
ordered  the  chorus  alone,  with  piano,  for  9  in  the 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  187 

morning :  after  screaming  myself  hoarse — with  my  eternal 
sore  throat — at  u  began  my  band  rehearsal,  which  lasted 
until  half  past  3.  Imagine  the  condition  in  which  I 
reached  home  !  Still,  I  had  won  hope  in  return  for 
my  exertions,  and  that  gave  me  better  humour  ;  which 
finally  has  buoyed  me  up  till  now,  when,  although 
fearfully  tired,  I  yet  am  writing,  as  you  see,  with 
cheerful  calm. 

I  took  Klind worth  home  with  me  after  yesterday's 
concert  ;  we  consumed  2  dozen  oysters,  cold  cutlets,  and 
washed  them  down  with  a  bottle  of  wine — till  2  o'clock. 
Did  I  think  of  home  the  while  ?  ?  Dear  child,  it  stays 
my  solitary  hope,  that  the  thing  may  come  to  end  here 
and  I  return  at  last  to  my  familiar  country  ;  for  that 
is  Zurich  to  me  now,  my  house,  my  friends,  my  animals 
— and — yes,  I  must  tell  it  you — my  good  old,  first-rate, 
thorough-bad — I  meant  to  say,  dear  Wife — more  than 
ever  !  Well,  I  shall  try  to  keep  on  end  till  then,  as 
I  see  very  well  it's  a  matter  of  sticking  to  my  post  this 
time,  even  if  it  strictly  is  not  my  right  post.— 

Whatever  else  I  might  have  had  to  write  to  you, 
I'll  make  good  tomorrow  or  the  next  day  if  I  shall 
have  received  another  letter  from  you  ;  I  have  plenty 
more  to  report  :  to-day  [it  has  been]  merely  the  last 
concert.  Let  me  hope  my  present  letter  will  be  agree- 
able to  you  ;  if  it  contributes  a  little  to  cheering  you 
up,  and  thus  to  making  your  thorny  life  a  wee  bit 
pleasant,  it  will  heartily  rejoice  me. 

Farewell  for  to-day,  then,  dear  Muzius,  be  comforted 
and  hold  dear 

Thy 

very  good  HUSBAND. 

A    thousand   greetings   to   all  !     I   shall   shortly  send 


i88  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

journals   and    programme  (also   of  the   Last   symphony — 
in  English). 

81. 

LONDON,  30.  March  1*55. 

MY    QUITE    GOOD    MlENEL, 

Even  to-day  I  shan't  arrive  at  writing  you  the 
promised  letter,  yet  I  mean  to  bring  off  a  couple  of  lines 
at  least  to  keep  you  from  growing  uneasy.  For  your 
last  letter  I  thank  you  heartily  ;  I  see  you're  doing 
all  you  can  to  keep  me  in  good  humour.  Well,  it's 
to  be  hoped  that  my  last  letter,  which  you  will  have 
received  this  morning,  has  pacified  you.  Nothing  what- 
ever has  happened  since,  neither  have  the  papers  come  out 
with  anything  yet  of  importance  ;  the  Times  has  kept 
silence  till  now,  though  I  don't  know  if  it  has  printed 
anything  to-day.  It  is  only  for  you  folk  I  mention  this  ; 
if  I  seek  information  about  it,  it  isn't  that  /set  any  store 
by  it,  but  because  you  folk  appear  to.  Uncle  and  Aunt 
[Wesendonck]  have  written  me  very  amiably  to-day  : 
give  them  my  heartiest  thanks  to  go  on  with  ;  anyhow  I 
mean  to  set  apart  a  day  exclusively  for  answers  soon. 
Then  I  shall  also  send  whatever  printed  matter  I  can  lay 
hands  on  ;  only,  don't  any  of  you  expect  something 
decent.  Sulzer  requests  me,  if  anything  "substantial" 
appears,  to  send  it  on  to  him  : — he  may  have  long  to 
wait  !  Meantime  I  make  him  a  present  of  his  beautiful 
faith  in  English  solidity  and  humanity  :  here  no  one 
shares  it,  and  the  bottomless  hollowness  of  all  modern 
English  relations  is  an  open  secret,  chirped  by  the  very 
sparrows  on  the  roofs.— 

Last  week  I    was  at   a  performance  of  the    ' '  Sacred 
Harmonic    Society,"    where    they    give    religious     music, 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  189 

oratorios  etc.,  25  to  30  times  a  year.  Really  that  is 
the  best  music  one  has  in  Hngland  :  the  Requiem,  in- 
deed, was  quite  respectably  rendered  under  Costa.  I 
paid  him  a  call  on  the  strength  of  it  yesterday,  which 
appeared  to  please  him  very  much. — The  day  before  yes- 
terday, however,  I  was  at  the  New  Philharmonic  Society, 
where  I  heard  a  mass  of  music  (including  the  C  minor 
symphony)  so  banged  about  under  Dr.  Wylde's  direction, 
that  I  felt  quite  ill  :  the  Times  praises  it  highly.  It  was 
awful  ! — To-day  I  dine  with  Ernst,  who  has  married  an- 
other Jewess  here.  Tomorrow  I  go  to  Benecke's  again, 
where  proceedings  are  sociably  wooden,  and  rather  auda- 
ciously wind  up  with  music.  On  that  I'll  shortly  write 
the  Wesendoncks.  — For  the  rest,  never  a  lord,  nor  yet  a 
lady,  has  taken  me  up  ;  they  all  are  very  wide-awake, 
and  none  have  lost  their  senses.— 

You  haven't  a  word  of  praise  for  my  decision  to  let 
Berlin  have  Tannh.  without  conditions  ?  As  to  myself,  it 
cost  me  a  hard  struggle  ;  for,  as  the  matter  stands  and 
people  are,  doubtless  I  have  offended  Liszt  deeply  :  he 
hasn't  yet  answered  me.  Still,  what  does  one  not  do  for 
money's  sake  ?  one  can't  stand  firm  for  ever,  especially  as 
nobody  would  comprehend  one's  not  wanting  to  tread  on 
the  corns  even  of  a  foible  of  a  friend  so  proved  in  other 
ways.  The  Frommann  has  written  me  as  if  gone  crazy  ; 
I  had  two  letters  on  one  day  from  her.  Well,  Hr.  v. 
Hiilsen  means  ardently  to  back  my  wish  for  an  advance  of 
100  L. d'or  ;  what  more  can  one  ask  ? — 

I've  also  written  to  my  Dresden  draper.  Now  I'm 
in  London,  all  the  world  deems  me  rolling  in  riches 
again.  Franck  of  Paris,  too,  has  politely  reminded  me  of 
my  old  debt,  which  I  should  really  like  to  pay  him  from 
my  savings  here.  So  it  keeps  on,  dear  Mienel  :  we  shall 


190  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

never  alight  on  a  green  twig — we  must  abandon  that  idea  ; 
neither  will  there  be  any  extra  windfall  for  me  here.  God 
knows  what  will  be  the  end  of  it  ;  the  best  way  is  to  lose 
the  trick  of  living,  which  somehow  does  not  seem  given 
one  for  joy.  I'm  always  offering  all  I  have,  and  lavishing 
the  whole  of  my  powers — I  feel  that  in  my  poor  body  !— 
but  towards  me  everything  is  leathern,  coy,  or  common. 
I  suppose  that's  how  it's  bound  to  be!  Only  the  Jews  and 
scamps  can  make  money  as  "  artists  "  nowadays  ;  one 
sees  that  here.— 

For  the  rest,  I'm  leading  a  very  retired  life  of  it  : 
work  is  going  fairly,  my  sole  remaining  joy  !  but  when  at 
it,  I  daren't  think  of  the  fate  of  my  works. — Don't  fret 
about  me,  though  ;  I'm  still  keeping  afloat.  I  slept  well 
last  night  for  once  at  least  ;  only,  I've  caught  a  fresh  cold, 
and  no  wonder  after  the  concert. — Please  don't  frank  any 
more  ;  it  distresses  me.  The  Messieurs  Directors  have 
just  sent  50  pounds  into  my  house  for  the  first  two  con- 
certs, which  will  carry  me  a  long  way  ;  if  they  repeat  it 
soon,  Wesendonck  shall  have  his  1000  fr.  out  of  it.  For 
you  we'll  wait  for  Berlin  now. — If  I  feel  comfortable  in 
the  next  few  days,  I  will  write  you  a  nice  letter.  Many 
thanks  again  for  yours. 

Farewell,  dear  old  girl,  and  distribute  kind  regards. 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

82. 

LONDON,  7.  April  1855. 

(Do  you  have  to  pay  extra  on  my  letters  ?  ?) 
Yesterday  morning,  dearest  old  woman,  I  received  your 
pink  letter  ;  then  Eschenburg  came,  and  brought  me  your 
yellow.      Touching  this  latter,  it  grieves  me  that  an  over- 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  191 

sight  at  the  Post  should  have  turned  you  so  rusty  at  once. 
Since  I  had  had  to  write  to  Wesendonck,  as  you  advised 
me  yourself  in  fact,  I  referred  you  to  him  for  further  news 
of  me  :  and  you  thought  that  so  dreadful  ! — You  were 
right  to  disown  the  yellow  letter  in  advance.  For  the 
rest,  as  regards  Semper' s  reports,  you  know  my  abode  now 
through  my  own  description  :  if  Semper  saw  more  rooms, 
it  must  be  ascribed  to  his  imaginativeness  as  architect  ; 
but  perhaps  you  simply  understood  him  wrong,  just  as 
distrustful  people  sometimes  don't  hear  rightly.  Do  you 
believe  I'd  tell  you  all  a  story,  maybe  to  feather  my  nest 
here  on  the  sly  ? — If  Semper  said  I'm  standing  champagne 
here,  it  was  very  modest  of  him  ;  for  it  was  he  who  paid 
for  a  bottle  of  champagne  after  the  first  concert,  and  as 
I  couldn't  afford  to  revenge  myself,  I  promised  him  a 
champagne-fete  at  Zurich  instead.  That — it  seems — he 
has  expressed  quite  elegantly. — For  that  matter,  I  was 
only  three  times  in  his  company  :  when  I  went  to  him 
last,  he  had  meant  to  be  just  departing,  but  had  been 
delayed  by  a  row  with  a  workman  ;  which  had  thrown 
him  into  such  an  awful  temper,  that  he  wanted  to  smash 
up  his  whole  house.  That  amused  me,  and  I  began 
joking  about  it  in  my  usual  way,  which  ended  by  sending 
him  into  fits  of  laughter  ;  hence  his  conveying  you  the 
report  of  my  jocular  mood,  which  seemed  to  you  in  such  a 
contradiction  with  my  letters. — Really,  a  mite  of  belief  in 
those  nearest  one  is  a  beautiful  thing.  Belief  doesn't 
appear  to  strike  very  deep  with  you,  and  I  often  have  to 
give  you  explanations  it  were  better  to  omit  — 

Your  having  written  to  Alwine  that  Hiilsen  was  to 
send  the  100  ly.d'or  to  me  in  London,  is  a  fresh  confusion 
again,  and  will  cost  a  lot  of  money.  What  on  earth  can 
have  warranted  you  in  believing  I  shouldn't  eke  out  with 


192  RICHARD    TO    MINNA  WAGNER 

my  money  here  ?  Have  I  ever  cast  a  moment's  doubt  on  my 
even  saving  something  to  bring  back  to  Zurich  ?  All  I  gave 
you  to  understand,  was  that  it  is  dearer  here  than  Wesen- 
donck  wished  to  impress  on  me,  and  that  I  certainly  must 
live  very  simply  and  make  no  long  excursions,  if  I  meant 
to  save  up  ;  which,  on  the  other  hand,  has  always  been 
my  aim  and  intention.  My  God,  please  don't  read  any- 
thing behind  my  lines  that  isn't  in  them  !  I  shall  do 
better  to  keep  things  to  myself  in  future,  and  not  lament 
again  about  my  stay  here,  as  you  people  really  always  end 
by  seeing  something  beneath  it,  perhaps  even  affectation  ; 
for  you  yourself,  alas,  have  no  notion  at  all  of  my 
candour  ! — So — let  us  drop  the  subject  ! — 

I  have  been  invited  by  Eschenburg  and  Gerber  to  go 
with  them  to  Sydenham  to-day,  to  see  the  Crystal  Palace  ; 
my  first  outing  from  London.  Next  time  I'll  tell  you  all 
about  it.— 

For  the  last  2  days  Spring  weather  has  also  set  in  ; 
mild,  balmy — but  relaxing  air,  I  enjoyed  it  yesterday  in 
Hydepark  ;  as  soon  as  the  trees  turn  green,  I  shall  go  to 
Richmond,  and  some  day  to  the  Isle  of  Wight  as  well, 
where  it  is  said  to  be  very  beautiful.  Otherwise  I'm 
always  suffering  from  enervation,  which  after  all  is  better 
than  excitement,  only  that  I  have  no  true  spirit  for  my 
work  yet  ;  I  feel  as  if  I  had  forgotten  it  all  :  God  knows 
if  it  will  return  to  my  memory.  On  the  whole  I'm  drag- 
ing  on  from  day  to  day,  without  the  smallest  zest  for  life  : 
—but  there,  I  won't  complain  !— 

I've  nothing  more  to  tell  you  of  the  concert  business 
here.  A  letter  inviting  me  to  the  committee  seems  to 
have  recently  gone  astray,  and  accordingly  they  made  up 
their  programme  without  me.  To-day  I  learn  that  the 
gentlemen  have  chosen  a  symphony  of  Spohr's  and  a  ditto 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  193 

of  Mendelssohn's  (the  same  which  A.  Miiller  regaled  us 
with  at  Zurich  lately)  :  ah,  what  bliss  for  me  !  However, 
I  have  written  Herr  Hogarth  at  once  and  lodged  a 
protest,  requesting  a  symphony  by  one  of  those  gentle- 
men to  be  at  least  accompanied  by  one  of  Beethoven's. 
I  shall  see  if  I'm  in  time  to  alter  it. — After  all,  though, 
it's  much  the  same  to  me  ;  a  Beethoven  symphony  doesn't 
make  a  hair's  breadth  more  effect  here,  than  any  other. 
You  would  laugh  if  you  could  only  see  this  audience  :  what 
the  men  have  too  long  between  nose  and  mouth,  the 
women  all  have  too  short  ;  not  one  can  close  her  mouth, 
but  perpetually  displays  two  naked  teeth.  Moreover,  the 
ladies  all  wear  the  most  atrocious  colours,  hardly  any  but 
scarlet  burnouses,  etc.  ;  one  often  sees  an  enormously  lux- 
uriant coiffure,  with  roses  and  curls,  and  for  frontispiece  a 
nose  with  glasses.— 

Of  my  future  bearings  towards  these  relations  I  haven't 
a  notion,  but  hope  the  Philharmonic  won't  be  so  stupid  as 
to  want  to  engage  me  again  at  double  the  fee,  as  I  suppose 
one  would  be  obliged  to  accept  for  dear  money's  sake  ;  and 
then  you  would  have  to  come  too — and  then — you'd 
be  very  sorry  for  me.  I  say  nothing  further  !  I  have 
been  to  the  Beast-garden  again,  and  this  time  made  my 
chief  call  on  the  lions  and  tigers,  who  snarled  a  good  deal 
at  me  over  their  meal  ;  two  lion  cubs  are  very  intimate 
with  a  bull-dog.  The  birds  are  fabulous  ;  a  wonderful 
species  of  ostrich  with  rose-coloured  wings  surprised  me 
much.  But  the  whole  thing  is  very  fine  ! — The  other  day 
Klind worth  played  me  a  sonata  of  Liszt's  too  beautifully 
for  words  ;  it  was  in  the  evening,  at  my  rooms,  and  both 
of  us  wrote  to  Liszt  at  once,  which  will  have  given  him 
great  delight. — For  the  rest,  I'm  living  even  lonelier 
than  at  Zurich  here,  but  also  do  not  care  a  rap  for 
VOL.  i  13 


194          RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

people.      Things  will    go    of   themselves,    and    the    time 
slip    by. 

For  to-day,  dear  stern  Wife,  make  the  best  of  these 
jottings,  for  which  I  strictly  had  no  other  motive  than  to 
give  you  just  a  sign  of  life,  that  you  mayn't  be  harbour- 
ing black  thoughts  again.  I  thank  you  much  for  the 
assurance  that  you're  feeling  well  ;  believe  me,  I  would 
rather  hear  that  than  anything  ! — And  just  you  be  easy 
about  me  ;  I  shall  arrive  at  the  end,  and  not  come  to 
grief  with  it.  Give  a  thousand  greetings,  and  tell  Sulzer 
all  the  kind  things  from  me  one  ever  can  say.  Farewell, 
good  Muzius,  don't  be  obstinate  again,  and  only  think 
the  best  of  me  ;  even  then  you  won't  be  thinking  well 
enough  of 

Thy 

RICHER. 

83. 

LONDON,    it.  April  1855. 

MOST    FAITHFUL    OF    WlVES, 

Best  thanks  for  your  yesterday's  letter.  "  All- 
right,"  says  the  Englishman.  I  am  in  a  trifle  better 
humour,  as  I  have  a  rehearsal  again  the  day  after  to- 
morrow, and  thus  can  realise  why  I'm  in  London.  I 
have  bowled  the  programme  over  :  we  shall  do  the  C  minor 
symphony  of  Beethoven  — with  a  trumpery  Mendelssohnian 
symph. — and  also  the  Euryanthe  overture.  The  gentle- 
men would  be  glad  to  have  the  Tamihauser  overture  at 
the  4th  concert,  only  we  should  have  to  go  through  it 
first  at  the  rehearsal  for  the  3rd,  and  probably  there  won't 
be  time  for  that  ;  consequently  I  can't  yet  say  for  certain.— 
For  the  rest,  I  pursue  my  lonely  life  with  very  few 
acquaintances  :  no  lord  yet,  and  no  lady  ! — I  had  bad 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  195 

luck  that  time  with  Eschenburg.  I  and  Praeger,  he 
and  Gerber  started  off  together,  each  pair  of  us  taking 
a  cab  for  the  station  ;  after  I  and  Praeger  had  got  there 
and  waited  half  an  hour,  we  took  train  for  the  Crystal 
Palace,  waited  and  hunted  there  :  in  vain  !  A  few  days 
later  Eschenburg  explained  that  they  believed  we  all  had 
meant  to  go  to  Richmond ;  so  they  had  gone  there,  and 
we  to  the  Crystal  Palace. — As  for  this  Palace,  you  were 
much  in  my  thoughts  there  :  I  really  believe  you  would 
have  been  greatly  surprised  and  pleased  ;  it  contains 
absolutely  everything  one  can  possibly  imagine,  and  also 
arranged  with  much  taste.  It  is  indeed  a  sight  to  be 
remembered,  and  I  shall  tell  you  about  it  by  mouth. 

Edward  Rockel  has  been  here  on  a  few  days'  visit  ;  you 
know  what  an  agreeable  man  he  is.  I  passed  the  time 
with  him  quite  tolerably  ;  naturally  we  had  a  deal  to  tell 
each  other.  He  is  tremendously  busy  earning  money, 
and  brings  it  up  to  7  or  8  hundred  pounds  a  year,  but 
can't  lay  any  by  yet.  One  evening  we  were  at  Sainton's, 
who  played  us  the  violin  very  beautifully.  The  second 
evening  we  went  to  a  theatre — my  first  visit  :  it  was  a 
very  small  suburban  theatre — the  Marylebone — which  has 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  press  for  some  time  past. 
They  played  the  "Merry  Wives  of  Windsor"  (Shake- 
speare), and — as  I  thought — quite  well  ;  at  least  the 
performance  made  a  thoroughly  interesting  impression 
on  me.  Then  came  a  ballet,  in  which  a  dancer  a  la 
Pepita  threw  up  her  petticoats  and  stared  at  her  calves 
exactly  as  you  had  described  to  me.  Then  came  a  big 
5~act  tragedy,  of  which  we  made  a  present  to  the  good 
people.  For  that  matter,  alas,  the  house  was  empty. 
The  English  as  a  rule  do  not  appear  to  love  the  theatre. 
—Yesterday  we  dined  with  Prager  close  to  Londonbridge  ; 


196  RICHARD   TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

very  good  fish  and  rostbeaf — as  much  as  one  liked — for 
18  pence,  i.e.  i^  schilling  :  for  a  wretched  bottle  of 
Rhine-wine,  on  the  contrary,  we  had  to  pay  8  schilling  ! 
It  was  interesting,  how — ere  falling  to — a  gentleman 
rapped  on  the  table  and  mumbled  grace,  to  polish  off  that 
business  also.  On  our  way  out  the  landlord  was  standing 
on  the  steps  to  take  toll. — Rockel  sends  you  kind 
regards.  .  .  . 

For  the  rest,  the  season  proper  is  beginning  now  ; 
to-day  we  have  our  first  Italian  opera,  with  the  Ney  from 
Dresden.  You  may  imagine  how  eager  I  am  for  it  !  I 
shall  be  only  too  glad  when  another  concert  is  over  ;  this 
pause  of  3  weeks  has  been  a  great  infliction. 

There  will  not  be  much  more  to  write  to  you  about 
myself  ;  in  return,  your  tidings  always  rejoice  me  greatly  : 
only  write  much  !  I  enjoyed  the  fine  weather  here,  too  ; 
but  then  came  strong  wind  again,  which  set  all  my 
rheumatism  going,  so  that  I  have  risen  quite  a  cripple 
every  morning.  But  you  are  doing  well  ?  That  would 
be  the  pick  of  the  market  !  By  the  way,  Hiilsen  hasn't 
written  me  yet  ;  an  advance  of  this  sort  must  really  be  a 
thing  of  mighty  weight.  In  a  happy  event,  of  course,  I 
shall  attend  to  your  orders. — Unfortunately  I,  too,  must 
spend  my  birthday  by  myself  this  time  ;  but  we'll  keep 
its  memory  on  the  6th  Septb.,  won't  we?  My  next 
birthday  in  any  case  we  shall  be  together.  You  ask  me, 
you  good  woman,  what  you  shall  work  for  me  :  a  dressing- 
gown  ?  But  you  surely  won't  be  wanting  to  embroider 
that  !  Certainly  I  shall  not  bring  my  old  one  back  with 
me,  for  it  is  deep  on  the  decline  already,  and  in  a  couple 
of  months  will  absolutely  not  be  worth  the  carriage. 
Still,  I  shan't  be  needing  a  new  one  in  the  summer,  and 
for  the  autumn  you  are  to  make  me  a  regular  beauty  ;  but 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  197 

I  can't  saddle  you  with  the  expenses  for  that,  as  you 
know  what  luxurious  tastes  I  have  in  this  regard,  though 
vou  remain  my  dressing-gown  purveyor  anyhow.  So 
think  out  for  yourself  what  else  you  could  make  me  ; 
I  really  deserve  something  madly  beautiful.— 

Tell  Sulzer  I'll  send  him  a  "  substantial  "  newspaper 
article  so  soon  as  one  appears  ;  I  have  waited  in  vain  till 
now.  But  in  any  case  he  shall  get  a  very  long  London 
letter  from  me  yet  ;  I  shall  have  plenty  to  write  to 
him,  once  I  commence.  Whatever  would  Boom  think  of 
himself  here?  ! — For  lack  of  nobler  beings,  I  relax  myself 
from  time  to  time  with  Prager's  cat,  which  is  very  fond 
of  me.  And  Pepsel  is  really  so  nimble  afoot  ?  Rockel 
was  quite  amazed  that  he  was  still  alive. — My  work  is 
going  slowly  forward.  Much  else,  that  often  passes 
through  my  head,  I  am  saving  up  for  word  of  mouth. 
I  have  seen  yourself  a  couple  of  times  already  ;  with  the 
grey  cape  and  lilac  bonnet,  quite  lifelike.  My  sleep  is 
passable.  Your  franked  letters  I  have  always  received 
with  my  early  coffee,  the  unfranked  not  till  dinner- 
time, at  2.  I  am  expecting  Klindworth  for  a  promenade 
to-day  ;  he  will  feed  with  me  after,  which  does  not  cost 
much  more  than  if  I  ate  alone.  I  have  a  ham  in  the 
house,  too,  but  I  assure  you,  no  champagne  ;  we  are  to  be 
the  first  to  drink  that  together  again. 

I'm  glad  you  think  sensibly  now  concerning  London  ; 
regarded  thus,  I  shall  hold  out  this  time.  As  to  the 
future,  we  shall  see. — Now,  a  thorough  good  farewell 
again  to-day  ;  keep  thoroughly  well,  and  think  thoroughly 
well  of  me.  Only  believe,  too,  that  I'm  heartily  fond  of 
you.  After  the  concert  I'll  write  you  again.  Adieu, 
good  Muzius  ! 

Many  greetings  to  Zurich  ! 


198  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

84. 

LONDON,   17.  April  1855. 

DEAR  MIENEL, 

Now  I  still  have  five  more  concerts  to  conduct  ! 
The  third  went  off  yesterday  as  well — as  possible  :  there 
is  not  enough  time  for  rehearsing  ;  at  our  one  rehearsal  a 
fearful  mass  of  music  must  be  just  played  through,  and 
really  it  is  only  owing  to  my  great  adroitness  and  energy 
that  the  principal  pieces  always  go  as  I  want  them  at  last, 
even  if  not  with  that  perfection  of  finish  they  would  if 
there  were  less  music  and  more  rehearsals,  so  that  the 
orchestra  could  get  a  thorough  grasp  of  everything.  What 
I  do  bring  to  pass,  notwithstanding,  naturally  is  some- 
thing quite  fresh  to  these  people,  and  — whoever  knows 
how  to  appreciate  it,  is  beside  himself  for  joy.  Thus  in 
particular  with  the  C  minor  symphony  this  time  and  the 
Euryanthe  overture,  which  was  demanded  da  capo  :  a 
repeat,  however,  was  disagreeable  to  the  orchestra  this 
time,  on  account  of  the  great  heat  in  the  room  and  the 
exertion  this  overture  costs  the  violinists  in  especial  ; 
wherefore  the  leaders  begged  me  to  quit  the  platform  (as 
it  was  the  closing  number  in  the  first  part)  in  order  that 
the  applause  might  cease  ;  which  I  gladly  did,  and  so 
friend  Publicus  calmed  down  at  last.  For  that  matter,  I 
conducted  with  a  touch  of  malice  this  time,  which  highly 
amused  my  closer  acquaintances  down  in  the  hall  and  tip 
on  the  platform.  The  first  part,  you  see,  began  with  the 
poor  Mendelssohn  symphony  announced  to  you  before 
["  Italian  "],  followed  by  various  boring  vocal  and  con- 
certed pieces.  Well,  hitherto  I  had  always  appeared  on 
the  platform  in  white  gloves,  but  taken  them  off  to 
conduct  (which  no  other  conductor  does  here)  ;  this  time, 
however,  I  kept  them  on,  and  conducted  Mendelssohn  and 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  199 

the  rest  most  gingerly — precisely  as  the  others  do,  without 
letting  my  equanimity  be  ruffled  in  the  slightest.  But 
when  it  came  to  the  Euryanthe  overture  I  pulled  off  the 
gloves,  laid  them  aside,  and  went  at  it  in  my  way  ;  I 
looked  round,  and  observed  how  Praeger  and  the  others 
were  nearly  splitting  with  laughter. 

After  the  concert  I  took  Praeger  and  Liiders  (who 
always  would  like  to  devour  me)  to  my  rooms,  to  consume 
4  dozen  oysters  with  me.  At  any  rate  I  make  these 
people — and  their  like — most  happy,  for  they  declare 
point-blank  they  never  knew  Beethoven  &c.  before. 
Publicus  also  was  fairly  animated.  I  have  already  told 
you  of  the  abominable  fashion  of  quitting  the  room  before 
the  end  of  the  concert  :  this  time  we  wound  up  with  the 
overture  to  the  "Water-carrier,"  which  I  am  very  fond 
of,  and  which  also  was  played  very  well  ;  after  the  pre- 
ceding vocal  number  —by  Mad.  Rudersdorf-Kiickenmeister 
(of  Dresden  memory) — the  exodus  commenced  ;  so  I  took 
a  chair  quite  placidly  and  watched,  firmly  determined  not 
to  begin  again  till  quiet  had  returned,  even  if  I  had  to 
wait  for  the  whole  room  to  empty.  For  which  reason  I 
said  to  Sainton  fairly  loud,  in  French  :  Only  wait  ;  per- 
haps we  shall  not  need  to  play  the  overture  at  all  !  This 
seemed  to  have  been  caught  by  a  very  refined  and  intelli- 
gent-looking aristocrat  and  his  wife  on  the  front  bench, 
for  he  and  his  lady  smiled  at  me  most  approvingly,  which 
I  reciprocated.  The  others  also  seemed  to  understand 
my  attitude,  and  soon  the  greatest  quiet  reigned  ;  so  that 
I  had  much  relish  at  last  in  conducting  this  overture  for 
the  remainers. 

But  to-day,  poor  hack,  I  feel  as  tired  as  a  dog  again, 
and  all  to  pieces  ;  I  can't  place  myself  at  the  desk  to 
write  this  letter,  my  legs  are  cracking  under  me.  Good 


200  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

God,  I  always  exert  myself  far  too  much  for  this  world 
of  scamps  ;  if  I  continue  doing  it  another  30  years,  no 
doubt  I  shall  have  had  enough  ! — Perhaps  people  will 
leave  me  at  rest  then  ;  my  only  consolation. — To  change 
the  subject,  we  are  having  wonderful  weather  now  ;  it  is 
so  warm  that  I  suddenly  don't  know  how  to  clothe  myself 
lightly  enough.  Naturally  the  wadded  paletot  will  not 
do  any  longer,  and  so  as  to  have  something  lighter  to 
throw  on,  and  not  finding  anything  suitable  in  stock,  I've 
had  to  order  a  Spring  cloak  a  la  Talma,  only  with  sleeves 
(similar  to  my  cast-off  blue  summer  paletot)  ;  which,  as 
it  is  to  be  all  lined  with  good  silk,  will  cost  317  pounds, 
somewhere  about  90  fr.,  but  wouldn't  have  come  much 
cheaper  after  all  at  Zurich.  The  other  day  I  bought  a 
pair  of  very  fine  razors,  with  which  I  now  remove  each 
morning's  beard  so  easily  that  I  never  know  what  has 
become  of  it. — -As  it's  so  beautifully  warm  now,  I  also 
treat  myself  to  a  hot  bath  now  and  then,  from  which  I'm 
expecting  dispersion  of  the  pains  in  the  limbs  and  heavi- 
ness of  body  that  have  been  regularly  plaguing  me  again 
here.  Beyond  that,  I  go  on  vegetating  lonesomely — from 
Praeger  to  Sainton  and  Liiders,  and  from  them  in  turn 
to  Sainton  [Klindworth  ?]  :  no  other  accmaintance  tempts 
me  in  the  least  to  cultivate  it.  Klindworth  (a  Hano- 
verian, by  the  by)  used  to  come  and  fetch  me  for  a  walk 
or  lounge,  which  was  very  agreeable  to  me  ;  but  the 
poor  devil  is  constantly  ill  now,  and  I  call  on  him  daily 
without  being  able  to  take  him  out.  He  is  the  best  of 
the  bunch  to  me  here,  and  reminds  me  much  of  Uhlich  ; 
a  strikingly  handsome  young  fellow,  plays  the  piano  quite 
extraordinarily,  and  came  here,  on  Liszt's  recommenda- 
tion, to  make  his  fortune.  He  appeared  in  public  once, 
and — as  others  assure  me — played  better  than  anyone  else 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  201 

in  England  ;  but  he  was  so  pulled  to  pieces  by  the  press — 
especially  the  Times — that  nobody  would  let  him  play 
again  :  such  are  these  valorous  English,  these  free  and 
independent — scamps  ! — He  has  been  struggling  along  ever 
since,  gives  a  lesson  here  and  there,  and  remains  on  the 
whole  without  prospect.  So  I  have  settled  with  Praeger — 
who  is  a  good-hearted  chap — that  we  shall  arrange  a 
special  matinee  (with  the  Ney,  it  is  hoped,  who  has  left 
her  card  on  me  already)  at  which  Klindworth  shall  get 
himself  properly  heard  for  once  by  a  select  invited  audience. 
Let  us  hope  that  will  help  him  !— 

Kietz,  crazy  creature,  has  also  written  me  ;  like  the 
rest,  of  course  he  imagines  I  am  playing  a  big  role  here 
and  can  procure  him  any  amount  of  orders  from  English- 
men. Lord,  if  the  asses  only  knew  how  I'm  simply 
marking  time  here  till  the  8th  concert,  to  take  it  out  on 
the  beloved  Seelisberg.— 

You  asked  me  the  other  day,  altogether  good  woman 
you,  what  superfine  thing  you  could  make  me  for  my 
return  ;  I  could  think  of  nothing  right,  but  the  new-come 
warmth  and  coining  summer-heat  inspire  me  with  a  very 
wanton  wish.  For  the  winter,  you  see,  we  have  invented 
a  splendid  indoor  costume  for  me,  which  also  is  to  be 
a  standing  order  ;  now  you  must  further  invent  me  a 
summer  suit  to  match.  My  luxurious  imagination  is 
enceinte  with  the  following  :  a  roomy  loose  jacket,  some- 
thing like  my  winter  house-jacket,  of  velvet  or  stout  silk, 
but  not  wadded,  only  lined  with  silk  ;  to  go  with  it,  a 
handsome  pair  of  trousers,  such  as  I  also  got  you  to  con- 
sent to  in  the  end,  but  likewise  not  wadded,  merely  lined 
with  foulard  :  linen  I  no  longer  can  bear  on  my  body, 
even  in  summer,  and  cotton  I  hate  like  sin.  So  have  a 
"food  think  how  to  make  things  nice  and  heavenlv  for  this 


202  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

poor  devil  of  yours  when  I  return  to  you  ;  which  latter  is 
the  fondest  occupation  of  my  thoughts.  To  give  you  some 
solid  background  for  these  voluptuous  ideas  of  mine,  I  may 
tell  you  that  Herr  von  Hiilsen  (that  divinely  handsome  man 
in  your  eyes)  has  also  written  me  to-day  and  announced 
the  bringing  off  of  that  advance.  I  intend  answering  him 
this  very  day,  and  assigning  the  money  to  Sulzer  ;  thus 
the  latter,  too,  will  get  his  disbursements  repaid.  I  also 
shall  bring  some  money  back  from  here  in  any  case,  and 
quite  goodly  orders  stand  in  prospect  for  this  autumn 
again  :  Hanover  will  certainly  soon  order  Lohengrin  (at 
50  Ld'or),  and  so  on.  It  is  sure  to  be  of  great  service 
to  me,  also,  that  Berlin  is  at  last  taking  the  lead  ; 
for  Germany  still  remains  my  field.  At  Hamburg, 
I  hear,  the  Lohengrin  is  having  greater  and  greater 
success.— 

Otherwise  I  here  learn  strictly  nothing  of  the  world  ; 
it  is  always  the  way  in  great  cities  like  Paris  and  London, 
where  one  never  arrives  at  a  comfortable  dip  into  the 
papers,  as  at  home.  Murder  and  sudden  death  may  occur 
here,  and  the  foreign  newspapers  report  on  it  like  mad- 
men :  one  hears  nothing  at  all  of  it,  at  least  if  one  lives 
as  I.  Yesterday,  however,  the  illustrious  Emperor  of  the 
French  arrived  here  with  his  consort.  Sainton  has  named 
someone  to  me  who,  when  Louis  was  loafing  around  here 
as  adventurer,  exclaimed  on  his  announcement  to  him  : 
By  God,  that  inconvenient  person  again  !  To-day  they 
act  as  if  possessed  with  him.  O  glorious  world,  proud 
England  !  Perhaps  I  shall  become  Emperor  of  Germany 
myself  one  day  !— 

Unfortunately  I  have  had  many  sleepless  nights  of 
late  again.  Once,  upon  waking  from  my  troubled  half- 
slumber,  I  suddenly  heard  a  nightingale  trilling  quite  close 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  203 

in  the  Park.  A  flood  of  tears  poured  from  my  eyes  !  I 
hear  the  dear  thing  often  now,  of  an  evening  and  morning. 
Ah,  if  it  were  not  for  this  touching  Nature,  truly  I 
couldn't  hold  out  any  longer  among  this  race  of  men  ! 
How  glad  I  am  that  you  have  so  much  sense  thereof 
yourself,  and  are  so  fond  of  animals  ;  to  a  feeling  heart 
they  really  constitute  the  only  comfort  in  a  world  where 
Man  displays  his  higher  reason  by  nothing  save  dissimula- 
tion and  all  manner  of  paltry  insanities.  How  charmingly 
truthful  these  animals  are  ;  and  behind  all  his  show, 
what  else  than  they  does  the  average  human  being 
strive  for,  except  that  they  are  frank  and  never  play  the 
hypocrite  ? — 

There — that's  enough  for  to-day  from  your  poor  tired- 
out,  battered,  over-vigilled  husband  :  he's  a  rogue  who 
gives  more  than  he  has  !  Your  last  letter  rejoiced  me 
again  ;  I  see  you  are  well  and  looking  at  my  situation 
here  quite  sensibly  :  if  everyone  would  only  do  that  !  It 
is  their  expecting  Lord  knows  what  from  me  here,  that 
worries  me  ;  but  if  von  judge  my  position  so  calmly  and 
sagaciously,  then  all  is  well,  and  we  shall  get  on  with 
each  other  quite  comfortably.  Look  you,  then  I  myself 
gain  that  sense  of  tranquillity,  and  even  of  humour,  needed 
to  carry  the  thing  to  its  close  ;  but  if  I  have  to  will  a 
thing  I  cannot  will,  I  become  downright  insane.  Poor 
thing,  you  experienced  that  once  [letters  36  and  37]  ;  if  you 
only  knew  what  I  suffered  for  you  then  !  I'm  sure  you 
don't  believe  it  ! — But  all's  well  now,  and  we  shall  see 
how  to  bring  our  old  age  to  a  blithe  and  happy  ending 
yet. 

Farewell,  dear  Wife.  Kind  regards  to  our  friends, 
and  hold  me  frcnicudonslv  dear  ! 


204  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

85. 

LONDON,  20.  April  1855. 

The  very  finest  Good-morning,  and  thanks  for  to-day's 
letter,  which  I  probably  received  about  the  same  hour  as 
you  my  last  Tuesday's.  I  have  just  shut  up  work,  which 
is  progressing  very  slowly,  to  write  you  a  couple  of  lines 
before  going  out.  Moreover,  I'm  medicining  to-day  ;  the 
London  diet  has  rather  interfered  with  me  of  late,  and  I 
was  advised  to  take  a  couple  of  pills  reputed  to  give  the 
lungs  free  play  :  [.  .  ,]  which  somewhat  lowers  me.  I 
fancy  it  will  have  good  results,  however,  and  also  restore 
my  night's  sleep.  Early  yesterday,  with  the  first  grey  of 
dawn,  I  was  tossing  sleepless  on  my  bed  and  waiting  for 
my  nightingale  ;  she  held  her  peace,  but  suddenly  I 
heard  an  awful  roar  instead  from  the  Zoological  Garden. 
At  once  I  recognised  the  one  uncivil  lion,  and  his  wish 
to  take  the  nightingale's  place  in  entertaining  me  this 
time.  Indeed  I  could  but  laugh  at  the  clownish  fellow, 
who  presumably  imagined  he  was  roaring  as  gently  as 
any  nightingale,  like  Bottom  (Zettet)  in  the  Midsummer 
Night's  Dream,  and  with  all  my  heart  I  said,  "  Roar 
again,  lion"  ;  which  he  also  did,  and  goes  on  doing  to 
this  day,  so  that  he  has  often  interrupted  my  work.  But 
when  an  atrocious  street-band  came  besides,  and  played 
"  Guter  Mond,  Du  gehst  so  stille  "  in  front  of  the  house, 
at  last  I  thought  :  You'd  better  throw  it  up  and  write 
Minna  the  story  instead,  who  herself  can  roar  and  sing 
"Good  moon"  quite  nicely.  Which  happens  here- 
with.— 

Yesterday  Eschenburg  and  Gerber  fetched  me  to  see 
the  animals,  who  vastly  entertained  us  again.  Among 
the  birds  I  was  particularly  attracted  this  time  by  a 
wonderful  nightingale  from  New  Zealand  (in  the  South 


205 

sea)  who  sang  to  us  quite  passionately,  and  bewailed  her 
love-lorn  plight  in  tones  so  splendid  that  they  still  are 
ringing  in  my  ears.  You  see  what  unexpected  musical 
suggestions  I'm  gathering  here  !  Then  we  dined  in 
Picadilly,  but  had  the  greatest  difficulty  in  getting  home. 
Fidclio  (in  Italian)  was  to  be  given  at  the  Italian  Opera  in 
honour  of  the  visit  of  the  Queen  and  the  Emperor  of  the 
French,  and  whatever  streets  the  mighty  potentates  were 
to  traverse  on  their  way  to  the  opera-house  were  lined 
already  with  an  awful  mass  of  people.  On  boxes  and 
boards  stood  lofty  England,  to  treat  the  Chef  of  the 
French  gensd'armes,  Jews  and  Jesuits,  to  its  enthusiasm  ; 
it  was  an  illumination  night,  and  transparencies  flared 
u  Welcome  Napoleon  "  to  put  one's  eyes  out.  Well,  we 
had  to  edge  through  to  cross  the  road,  and  of  course  the 
people  we  thrust  aside  believed  we  merely  wanted  to 
secure  the  best  place  in  front,  which  naturally  made  them 
most  indignant.  Among  other  things,  I  came  by  a 
terrible  blow  in  the  back  from  someone's  fist  ;  when  I 
looked  round,  it  was  a  highly  respectable  grey-haired 
gentleman,  and  I  politely  bade  him  "  Thank  you,  Sir." 
Eschenburg,  on  the  contrary,  found  a  very  handsome 
tassel  off  a  lady's  mantle  hanging  to  a  button  of  his,  so 
that  he  at  least  made  something  by  it. — To  the  selfsame 
Fidelio  and  Ney  I  am  invited  tomorrow  by  Hogarth,  who 
gets  seats  given  him  as  journalist  ;  yesterday  the  orchestral 
stalls  cost  15  pounds  apiece,  which  would  have  rather 
gened  me,  as  I  unfortunately  have  had  a  good  many 
expenses  of  late,  for  the  summer  overcoat  already  men- 
tioned, a  dozen  pairs  of  stockings,  etc.  ;  so  that  I  have 
gone  far  beyond  my  rule,  which  consists  in  taking 
5  pounds  a  week  out  of  Aunt  Wesendonck's  big  pouch. 
I  usually  have  to  pay  about  4  pounds  in  the  house,  so 


206  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

that  something  like  a  pound  is  left  for  out  of  doors, 
which  just  covers  my  cab-fares  and  other  small  expenses. 
But  if  I  lay  in  provisions,  such  as  wine,  ham,  bouillon  for 
soup,  to  say  nothing  of  buying  myself  anything,  I  have 
to  break  into  another  week's  money  ;  which  throws  me 
quite  out  of  balance,  and  often  makes  me  sceptical  as  to 
my  projected  savings.  Thus  much  is  certain  :  if  I  mean 
to  bring  back  anything  even  supportable,  I  must  keep 
myself  damned  short  of  theatres  and  outings.— 

I  have  heard  of  nothing  in  the  newspapers  about  our 
last  concert  ;  the  Times  has  kept  silence  again.  Should 
anything  rational  put  in  an  appearance,  from  a  dis- 
interested quarter  \_i.e.  not  Hogarth],  Sulzer  shall  certainly 
receive  it  ;  only  I  wonder  at  his  making  such  account  of 
the  rubbish  :  what  will  it  profit  him  or  me  ?  For  that 
matter,  the  last  concert  met  with  much  favour  again,  and 
I  have  been  assured  that  Publicus  was  quite  enthusiasmed. 
The  room  is  never  very  full,  although  well  filled  ;  it 
follows  its  own  old  groove,  and  only  gets  notably  full 
when  a  very  famous  virtuoso  plays  ;  if  the  Ney  were  to 
sing,  for  instance,  the  whole  place  would  be  packed. 
That's  the  truth. — So — compose  yourself,  I  beg  ! — By 
the  by,  the  Tannhauser  overture  is  to  come  off  next 
time  ;  even  at  our  last  rehearsal  it  went  tolerably.— 
To-day  I  mean  to  take  poor  Klindworth  for  a  little 
drive  in  the  beautiful  air  ;  he's  still  too  weak  for 
walking. — I  shall  be  writing  to  Sulzer  next,  even  if 
I  can't  enclose  him  any  journals.  Give  him  and  the 
other  dear  friends  and  people  my  very  best  remembrances  ; 
and  mind  you  skim  off  the  best  of  everything,  and  keep 
it  for  yourself. 

Your  news  rejoiced  me  much  again  ;   continue  feeling 
well  and  cheerful,  and  you  will  greatly  ease  my  mind  and 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  207 

give    me   agreeable   hopes  for  our   mutual  future.      So — 
farewell,  dear  Minna  ;   I  shall  soon  have  been  the  longest 
span  away  from  you  !— 


86. 

[LONDON,  April  26,  1855. — Tr.*] 

O  Muzius  !  Muzius  ! 

What  a  dog's  life  it  is  !  I  really  need  super- 
human patience,  to  hold  out  here.  Yet  I  recognise  that 
I  must  pay  the  penalty  for  my  folly  in  accepting  this 
absurd  invitation  to  Bngland  despite  my  knowing  that 
it  was  no  place  for  me.  Now  there  still  are  two  long 
months  before  me  to  hold  out  ;  what  idiocy  ! — I  shall 
bring  you  a  fairly  good  crop  of  grey  hairs  ;  if  you  mean 
to  pull  all  of  them  out,  I  shall  get  some  nice  bald 
patches  !  As  regards  my  true  province  I  have  absolutely 
nothing  to  look  for  here  ;  the  handful  of  trumpery 
concerts  cannot  blind  me  to  that  :  they  strictly  are  not 
my  affair  themselves.  Ah,  what  nonsense  it  is,  my  being 
here  !  My  head  grows  more  stupid  every  day,  and  now 
you  are  beginning  to  try  and  make  me  stupid  also  :  you 
make  out  that  you  received  no  letter  from  me  between 
[those  of]  the  yth  and  iyth  !  Please  have  another  good 
look,  and  do  me  no  injustice  ;  I  have  written  you  twice 
each  week.  And  then  I'm  to  allow  that  my  last  summer 
paletot  (which  I  got  made  3  years  ago,  when  we  were 
living  at  Rinderknecht's)  was  green  instead  of  blue?  You 
would  dispute  a  thing  like  that  with  me  ! — And  your 


*  In  the  current  German  edition  this  and  the  succeeding  letter  are 
printed  in  the  reverse  order,  but  the  date  of  this  is  established  by  its 
reference  to  the  New  Philharmonic  concert,  which  contemporary  journals 
prove  to  have  taken  place  on  Wednesday  the  25th  of  April. — Tr. 


2o8  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

birthday  I  know  quite  well  ;  it's  the  5th  Sept. — if  I 
referred  to  it  otherwise,  it  must  have  been  a  mere  slip  of 
the  pen.  And  all  the  other  nonsense  you  want  to  palm 
on  me,  whereas  it's  really  you  who  keep  me  waiting,  and 
left  my  last  letter  unanswered  two  whole  days  ;  for  I 
waited  two  days  for  it  in  vain.  And  I'm  to  be  the 
scapegoat?  That's  the  last  straw;  I  am  quite  in  the 
humour  ! — My  God,  those  cursed  2  months  more,  and 
their  trumpery  concerts  !  ! 

For  the  rest,  the  Tannhauser  overture  (of  which  I've 
fairly  had  my  fill  !)  doesn't  come  off  till  the  5th  concert  ; 
presumably  we  shall  have  an  extra  rehearsal  then,  with 
the  music  to  Egmont.  Our  next  concert  will  include  a 
symphony  by  one  of  the  society's  Directors,  Lucas  ;  but 
he  will  conduct  it  himself,  thank  God  ! — Could  I  ever 
have  believed  I  should  have  to  mix  in  such  concert  trash 
again  !  It  makes  me  feel  quite  pitiful  ;  everybody  will 
set  me  down  as  a  composer  a  la  Hiller  and  such-like. 
What  bliss  for  me,  to  be  numbered  in  that  sect  at  last  ! — 

I  have  made  one  solitary  choice  acquaintance.  A  rich 
amateur  who  also  composes  quite  nicely  for  his  own 
amusement,  a  Mr.  Ellerton,  had  himself  introduced  to 
me  at  the  last  concert  ;  he  said  he  knew  my  operas  from 
Germany,  where  he  had  often  seen  them  of  latter  years. 
He  paid  me  a  call,  which  I  returned,  when  he  took  me 
into  his  study  and  shewed  me  my  portrait  hanging  under 
Beethoven  and  Mozart  ;  where — so  he  said — it  has  hung 
for  2  years.  He  assured  me  I  had  saved  the  Phil- 
harmonic :  had  Costa  conducted  again,  he  and  many 
others  would  have  dropped  their  subscription.  There 
was  something  prepossessingly  shy  in  his  manner  towards 
me,  and  he  appears  quite  enthusiastically  devoted  to  me. 
He  also  assured  me,  many  here  had  made  acquaintance 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  209 

with  my  operas  in  Germany  ;  only,  he  agreed  there  was 
nothing  to  be  hoped  for  me  or  my  works  here,  and  I  must 
content  myself  with  the  friendship  of  individuals,  who 
certainly  were  much  attached  to  me.  On  Monday  he 
took  me  to  a  performance  of  the  Messiah,  at  which  I 
nearly  died  of  ennui.  Yesterday  [April  25]  I  finally 
declined  to  go  with  [him  ?]  to  the  concert  of  the  New 
Philharmonic,  where  that  donkey  Dr  Wylde  also  meant 
to  do  the  Ninth  Symphony  after  me.  At  the  rehearsal, 
I  hear,  he  broke  down,  and  they  were  compelled  to  stop  : 
but  that  doesn't  matter  at  all,  his  party  has  money  and 
pays  for  the  orchestra  ;  whether  a  mess  is  made  or  not, 
it's  all  the  same  to  the  bandsmen. — O,  it's  a  heavenly 
nation  ! — No,  Mietzel,  to  England  I  do  not  come  again, 
even  if  they  paid  me  500  pounds  !  ! — I've  something 
better  to  do,  than  threshing  chaff  here.  — 

Klindworth  has  already  arranged  the  first  act  of  the 
Walkiire  ;  he  played  it  to  me  yesterday  with  prodigious 
virtuosity.  I  shall  bring  the  arrangement  with  me,  when 
Boom  can  learn  it  up — for  hard  it  is — and  you'll  all  get 
something  to  hear  from  it  one  day.— 

I've  heard  Fidelio  in  Italian,  with  the  Ney  from 
Dresden  ;  fairly  bad.  But  on  Tuesday  I  went  with 
Praeger  to  a  minor  theatre  (the  Adelphi,  in  the  Strand) 
where  a  pantomime  (Zaubcrposse),  "Mother  Goose,"  was 
played,  sung,  danced  and  scene-changed  quite  famously. 
That  was  the  first  evening's  real  amusement  I've  had. 
Madame  Benoni  (from  Dresden)  was  one  of  the  dancers  !  — 

The  weather  has  turned  windy  and  cold  again,  as  in 
your  part  ;  I  don't  feel  well,  in  consequence,  and  have 
taken  an  aperient  again  to-day. — For  yourself,  make  a 
note  of  those  seidlitz-powders  ;  I'm  glad  they  took  away 
your  migraine.  I  am  truly  sorry  for  poor  Miiller  ;  let  us 
VOL.  i  14 


2io  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

hope  he'll  get  the  better  of  it,  when  you  must  give  my 
best  congratulations. — For  the  rest,  I  hear  and  see 
nothing  of  the  world  ;  cannot  you  write  me  how  things 
are  going  before  Sebastopol  ?  I  hear  nothing  about  it 
here  ;  not  a  creature  plays  politics,  saving  those  who 
earn  money  thereby.  Your  close  friendship  with  the 
family  Jachmus  quite  touches  me  ;  it  will  end  by  your 
converting  me  to  the  opinion  that  Herr  Jachmus  under- 
stands my  music.  For  to-day  only  greet  the  Wesendoncks 
most  kindly  ;  it  really  is  they  I  like  best  in  all  the  Hotel 
Baur.  And  Sulzer,  Boom,  Hagenbach — and  whatever 
the  others  are  called  :  salute  all  of  them  duly,  and  tell 
them  I'm  leading  the  life  of  a  god  here,  what  between 
taking  to  my  heels  and  remaining  !  And  you — you  wicked 
woman  !  don't  make  me  worse  than  I  am,  and  bad  as  I 
am,  hold  me  dear  :  I  and  the  good  God,  we'll  reward  you 
for  it  !  Fare  tremendously  well,  and  don't  keep  me 
waiting  for  letters  so  long  again  ;  it  makes  me  very 
uneasy,  do  you  hear  ?  Ah,  good  old  Peps,  take  good 
care  of  his  eyes  ! — Ah,  two  months  more  ! 
Ach  !  Ach  !  Ach  ! 

There's  a  good  Richcl  !  ! 

87. 

LONDON,   i.   May  1855. 

MY    COMPLETELY    GOOD    MlENEL, 

Do  not  expect  much  from  your  dear  husband 
to-day  ;  he's  utterly  done  up  !  I  fancied  I  was  in  for  an 
attack  of  grippe  at  yesterday's  concert,  the  catarrh  still 
plagues  me  so.  The  concert  itself  put  me  out  to  the  last 
degree  :  I  can't  go  into  everything  that  annoyed  me  at  it  ; 
enough  to  say,  the  one  thing  lacking  is  that  I  should  have 
to  conduct  "Martha"  again:  such  a  programme  came 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  211 

very  near  it.  While  conducting  an  aria  from  the 
"Huguenots"  and  a  miserable  overture  by  Onslow— 
an  Englishman — I  was  seized  by  such  disgust  and  remorse 
at  having  accepted  this  absurd  engagement,  that  it  got 
the  better  of  me  and  I  made  up  my  mind  to  demand  my 
definite  discharge  next  day.  After  the  concert  I  declared 
this  aloud  to  my  acquaintances,  whereupon  Liiders,  Praeger 
and  his  wife,  accompanied  me  home  to  make  me  change 
my  intention.  Over  oysters,  lobster  salad  and  punch, 
which  Liiders  prepared  with  great  art,  we  kept  it  up  till 
past  3  in  the  morning,  and  the  finale  was  my  giving  in  ; 
towards  which  — I  scarcely  need  assure  you — the  thought 
of  yourself,  and  your  distress  at  such  a  step,  contributed 
the  most  with  me.  So  I  mean  to  hold  out,  hard  as  it 
falls  on  me  to  have  to  ply  this  wholly  useless  handicraft 
for  another  2  months.  I  must  pay  the  penalty,  however, 
for  having  been  so  stupid  as  to  pave  the  way  for  this 
vexation  with  open  eyes  ;  a  thing  I  still  deeply  repent. — 
So  be  easy  about  me  ;  I  shan't  have  so  severe  an  attack  of 
the  dumps  again,  I  hope  !  But  it  was  the  most  idiotic 
concert  of  them  all  :  a  mawkish  symphony  by  one  of  the 
directors  ;  then  a  fearfully  tedious  nonett  by  Spohr  ;  a 
completely  insignificant  overture  by  Weber,  which — to 
make  things  worse — had  to  be  given  da  capo,  as  I  had 
conducted  it  far  too  finely  ;  to  conclude,  the  trashy  over- 
ture by  Onslow  !  — All  these  are  purely  interests  of  the 
Directors,  to  which  I  am  forced  to  conform  ! — Neither  did 
the  symphony  in  A  go  so  well  as  at  Zurich  by  a  long 
way  ;  such  an  English  orchestra  simply  is  not  to  be 
worked  into  ecstasy  ! — 

My  God,  I'd  rather  say  no  more  about  it  ! — Next 
week  we  have  an  extra  rehearsal,  at  which  (besides  the 
Tannhauser  overture  for  the  5th  concert)  a  symphony  by 


2i2  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

an  Englishman — Potter — then  a  new  symphony  by  Spohr, 
expressly  composed  for  London,  and  an  overture  by 
another  Englishman — Macfarren — are  to  be  got  through. 
What  bliss  for  me  !  I  have  been  unable  to  bring  off  the 
Egmont  music,  as  they  can  give  me  no  more  extra 
rehearsals.  — Well,  the  only  motto  here  is  Patience  to 
last  out  ;  but  I  could  turn  furious  at  anybody  who  looks 
for  profit  to  me  from  this  London  adventure.  As  said 
I  have  simply  to  do  penance  for  a  folly  committed.— 

Eduard  Rockel  has  invited  me  for  Thursday  to  Bath, 
whence  he  will  make  excursions  with  me  till  Sunday  ; 
probably  I  shall  accept,  for  a  little  distraction.  It  is  said 
to  be  very  beautiful  there.  I  shall  write  you  thence. 
Klind worth  isn't  allowed  to  go  out,  even  yet,  which  robs 
me  of  much  entertainment.— 

My  very  best  thanks  for  your  political  news  ;  I 
couldn't  help  laughing  !  Yes,  my  good  Muzius,  one 
lives  better  at  Zurich  ;  Lord,  what  a  treat  I  mean  to 
take  at  home  !  I  can  scarcely  contain  my  anticipations  of 
the  return  to  Zurich,  to  our  pretty  abode,  with  our  good 
humans  and  beasties,  and  its  cheery  mistress,  Madame 
Wagner,  who  is  sure  to  drive  away  the  recollection  of  this 
cursed  London  by  her  thorough  coddling,  and  so  make 
me  feel  well  again  and  up  to  my  work,  which  is  in  a 
terrible  rut  here.— 

There,  Liiders  is  knocking,  to  fetch  me  for  a  walk 
and  meal  (with  him  and  Sainton).  Even  so  I  could  not 
have  written  much  more,  to  say  nothing  of  my  always 
saving  up  for  word  of  mouth.  In  my  next  letter  I'll 
retrieve  a  little,  though,  especially  about  a  performance  of 
Romeo  and  Juliet  at  the  Haymarket  Theatre. 

Farewell,  my  dear  good  old  Minna.  Be  merrier  than  I, 
and  reflect  that  we  shall  never  be  parted  so  stupidly  again, 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  213 

nor  for  so   long  ;   a  thing  like  this  occurs  but  once.      A 
thousand  greetings  to  all  friends  ! 


88. 

LONDON,  4.  May  1855. 

DKAREST  MINNA, 

I  mean  to  pull  myself  thoroughly  together,  not  to 
forget  anything — as  usual.  Apart  from  that,  my  life  here 
would  afford  me  small  occasion  to,  as  it  creeps  away  so 
drearily  and  against  my  inner  grain,  that  I  wish  I  never 
had  come  into  the  position  to  have  to  report  on  it  !  — 

Here  goes,  then  ! — Your  question  about  the  pastilles  I 
have  already  answered  at  last,  with  Eschenburg  ;  I  must 
renew  my  thanks,  however,  for  your  great  attentiveness 
and  forethought,  which  I  do  herewith  from  all  my  heart. 
It  really  is  a  little  droll,  to  see  myself  assisted  on  this 
single  very  trifling  point,  whereas  so  many  other  and  more 
important  things  have  still  to  be  paid  for  so  shockingly 
dear.  Precisely  now,  the  imposts  for  this  crazy  war  make 
living  and  all  accessories  infinitely  dearer  than  has  ever 
been  the  case  before  ;  owing  to  the  enormous  taxes,  every 
single  article  has  tremendously  risen  in  price.— 

That  by  the  way. — One  letter,  according  to  your 
account,  must  certainly  have  gone  astray  ;  luckily  there 
can  have  been  nothing  of  very  great  moment  in  it.  Did 
you  get  my  letter  with  the  lion  anecdote  the  other  day  ? 
With  our  wind  from  the  North-East  I  constantly  hear  the 
naughty  fellow  roar  now,  which  also  is  a  sign  that  we 
shall  go  011  having  fair  dry  weather,  but  cold  and  inhospi- 
table, so  that  I  have  to  keep  reverting  to  my  wadded  coat. 
Nevertheless  I  have  ordered  a  complete  Spring-Summer 
outfit  now  :  trousers,  coat,  and  two  of  those  stout  English 
pique  waistcoats.  These  things  weren't  dearer  than  at 


2i4  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Zurich  here,  if  anything  a  little  cheaper  ;  consequently  I 
am  erecting  myself  a  memorial  to  England,  and  at  the 
same  time  lightening  my  tailor's  bill  of  next  New  Year.— 
Regarding  the  colour  of  my  cast-off  summer  paletot  we  will 
not  quarrel  any  more  ;  you  mean  the  one  made  5  years 
since  at  Zurich,  which  I  took  into  indoor  wear  at  last, 
and  /  mean  that  made  3  years  since  at  Zurich,  which 
I  hitherto  had  worn  out  of  doors. — From  London  there 
will  fall  to  yourself  some  lovely  Irish  lace,  in  any  case, 
and  maybe  something  else.  When  the  end  draws  near, 
I  must  also  bear  our  Zurich  friends  in  mind  quite  decently, 
don't  you  think?  As  I  shan't  be  bringing  back  much 
money,  it  would  be  the  most  sensible  to  bring  nice 
souvenirs  ;  for — to  London  I  shall  not  return.  There's 
time  enough  for  that,  however.— 

I  fancied  I  should  get  another  50  pounds  from  Ander- 
son after  the  4th  concert,  and  in  that  case  meant  to  send 
the  IOOO/T.  for  Wesendonck  at  once  to  Sulzer — an  occasion 
I  had  destined  for  the  long  letter  I  promised  him  ;  but 
Anderson  appears  to  have  forgotten  it,  and  as  I  still  have 
enough  money  to  live  on,  I  would  rather  not  remind  him, 
but  go  on  waiting.  Please  say  so  to  Sulzer,  who  won't 
be  so  afraid  of  calling  on  a  grass-widow,  I  hope,  as  the 
"  uncorrupted  "  Wesendonck.  Let  us  hope  the  last  good 
creature  doesn't  think  that  nothing  save  the  presence  of 
her  husband  holds  a  woman  back  from  every  kind  of  silly 
prank  she  else  would  necessarily  play  with  others  ;  I'm 
sure  he  has  no  such  dismal  notion  of  his  wife,  for  instance, 
just  as  I  am  happy  not  to  have  it  of  you,  whom  I  there- 
fore heartily  permit  to  receive  whatever  caller  you  may 
find  agreeable. 

That  brings  me  to  your  account  of  the  bad  odour  into 
which  the  Wesendonck  has  fallen  with  Mesdames  M.,  H. 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  215 

and  B. — If  the  lady  has  really  become  so  disagreeable  of  a 
sudden  that  those  individuals  can't  abide  her  any  longer, 
it  must  indeed  be  a  very  bad  case  ;  for  the  Wesendonck 
was  universally  regarded  as  a  most  amiable  woman  only  a 
short  time  since.  If  one  should  "  pity  him,"  Wesendonck, 
for  this  bad  odour  of  his  wife,  it  certainly  would  shew 
much  charity  toward  ///;;/,  but  not  towards  the  lady  whom 
one  brings  into  bad  odour  oneself,  and  I  could  not  deem 
that  pity  very  cordial.  It  is  to  be  hoped,  however,  that 
you  will  set  Mad.  H.  and  M.  a  good  example,  and  shew 
yourself  more  lenient  and  indulgent  toward  peculiarities 
perchance  arising,  which  at  bottom  may  well  be  excusable 
and  not  so  terribly  forbidding.*  Naturally,  no  constraint 
can  be  put  on  you  either,  and  if  you  have  a  genuine 
antipathy  towards  the  Wesendonck,  I  myself  should  not 
account  the  thanks  supposedly  due  to  her  sufficient  to 
oblige  you  to  keep  up  an  intercourse  distasteful  to  you. 
But  should  your  aversion  repose  on  any  manner  of 
mistrust  appearing  to  involve  your  honour,  I  believe 
I  may  give  you  the  assurance  that  such  mistrust 
is  perfectly  unjustified  and  groundless  :  on  the  con- 
trary, you  may  take  it  for  certain  that  no  one  more 
deserves  your  confidence  and  friendship  than  Mine 
Wesendonck  ;  just  as  I  myself,  for  all  the  difference  in 
characters  and  parts,  have  a  firm  and  hearty  confidence 
in  him,  a  confidence  I  also  hope  that  he  returns  me  of  full 
right.— I  have  so  often  made  no  reply  to  what  you  say 
about  the  W. ,  that  I  thought  it  incumbent  upon  me  to  go 
into  the  thing  at  greater  length  this  time,  as  I  could  not 


*  All  these  good  ladies  might  have  remembered  a  fact  evidently 
communicated  to  Wagner  by  the  husband  (see  next  page),  viz.  that 
Fran  Wesendonck  was  then  half-way  toward  her  confinement  of  next 
September. — Tr. 


216  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

help  remarking  that  an  utterly  erroneous  suspicion  has 
put  you  out,  in  however  natural  a  fashion,  and  warped 
your  judgment.  You  are  not  cross  with  me  for  this,  I 
hope  ?- — As  for  my  grey  hairs,  why,  tell  that  to  the  Wesen- 
doncks  without  any  fear  of  wounding  my  vanity  ;  for, 
notwithstanding  your  calling  me  a  "  handsome  husband  " 
in  your  last  letter,  I  have  no  great  conceit  of  my  beauty. 
—Touching  the  "  Uncle  and  Aunt,"  alas,  I've  no  secret 
to  tell  you  :  there's  absolutely  nothing  in  it  ;  you  surely 
ought  to  know  how  often  I  have  quizzical  flashes  with 
no  further  meaning  whatever.  With  the  best  and  most 
honourable  will,  I  must  therefore  leave  your  curiosity 
unsatisfied  this  time. — • 

By  the  way,  please  tell  Wesendonck,  to  whom  I  lately 
sent  a  few  lines  for  his  wife — on  a  hint  from  himself— 
that   he   has  still    to   expect  a  thoroughly  rational   letter 
from  me.— 

I  have  nothing  to  say  to  the  violin  man  ;  Praeger  has 
passed  on  his  address  to  an  instrument  dealer  here,  who  — 
if  he  means  to  go  into  the  matter — will  write  himself.— 
But  tell  me,  how  ever  did  you  come  by  the  infamous  idea 
that  there's  a  bang  on  the  gong  in  my  Tannhauser  over- 
ture ?  For  the  life  of  me  I  know  nothing  of  it,  and 
therefore  with  the  best  of  will  can't  leave  it  out,  which 
I  would  otherwise  have  gladly  done  to  please  you  ;  if  I 
mistake  not,  that  gong  is  a  banger  out  of  Sulzer's  head. 
That's  how  one  gets  paid  out  for  leaving  one's  wife  all 
alone  with  strange  bachelors  ! — As  for  the  concert  anec- 
dotes, I  wrote  you  all  that  was  needful  last  time.  The 
next  programme  will  somewhat  compensate  me  for  the 
last  ;  besides  my  overture  and  a  Beethoven  symphony, 
we're  to  have  a  Mozart  one  I've  entirely  re-nuanced  to  my 
liking,  and  for  the  close — the  going-out  piece — the  over- 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  217 

ture  to  Preziosa.  At  the  last  concert  we  did  quite  an 
obscure  and  insignificant — earlier — overture  of  Weber's  to 
"  The  Ruler  of  the  Spirits  "  ;  I  was  astounded  and  annoyed 
at  its  being  demanded  da  capo,  for  which  I  could  discover 
no  reason  whatever.  It  has  been  explained  to  me  now  : 
it  was  a  deliberate  demonstration  by  the  audience  in  my 
favour,  to  compensate  me,  as  it  were,  for  Herr  Lucas  with 
his  boring  symphony  having  been  received  before  (as 
Englishman  and  director  of  the  society)  with  more  applause 
than  he  was  certainly  worth.  That's  how  these  people 
are  :  the  thing  itself  makes  no  true  impression  on  them, 
and  leaves  them  cold,  as  I  recognised  again  thereafter 
with  the  effect  of  the  A  -major  symphony  ;  but  so  soon  as 
they  interest  themselves  in  a  person,  they  shew  it  with  a 
deliberateness  that  looks  almost  like  enthusiasm.  Con- 
sequently, all  is  design  ! — 

To  retrieve  another  point  forgotten,  I  may  tell  you 
that  the  Ney^  s  Fidelio  left  me  very  cold  :  a  fine,  equable 
soprano  voice,  but  the  whole  thing  drill,  and  already  all 
those  mannerisms  I  detest  so  ;  added  to  which,  she  is 
hideously  ugly.  The  whole  representation  was  bad  ;  to 
particularise,  Costa  didn't  understand  the  tempi  at  all, 
and  dragged  everything  :  only  Formes  as  Rocco  was  very 
good  ;  I  could  make  use  of  him  some  day.  I  also  saw 
Shakespeare's  Romeo  and  Juliet  at  the  Haymarket  Theatre 
the  other  evening,  by  very  indifferent  actors  who  neverthe- 
less had  the  tradition  at  their  fingers'  ends — so  it  seemed 
— which  interested  me  in  many  ways.  I  and  Liiders  had 
a  droll  experience  with  the  impersonator  of  Romeo  him- 
self :  an  old  womanish  chap  whom  we  ranged  in  the 
sixties,  without  any  nose,  with  a  mouth  all  sunk  in  and 
a  monstrous  big  chin  which  made  so  disastrous  an  im- 
pression upon  us  that  we  couldn't  help  laughing  whenever 


2i8  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

he  shewed  himself  in  profile.  After  the  ist  act  we  con- 
sulted the  programme  for  the  old  boy's  name,  and  found 
to  our  surprise  it  was  a  Mistress  Cushmann,  a  woman  !  !— 
The  day  before  yesterday  we  were  at  another  theatre,  the 
Olympic,  small,  but  very  elegant  and  with  quite  excellent 
comedy  actors.  The  actual  chief  genius  was  a  Mr.  Robsard, 
who  played,  danced  and  sang  in  a  concluding  pantomime, 
"  The  Yellow  Dwarf" — for  all  the  actors  here  must  be  able 
to  play,  dance  and  sing.  The  man  was  really  admirable— 
a  mixture  of  what  I  need  for  Mime  and  Alberich  ;  I  wish  I 
could  have  him  ! — -I  won't  deny  that  an  occasional  visit  to 
the  theatre — always  very  expensive,  though — agreeably 
distracts  and  helps  me  to  endure  the  otherwise  abominable 
stay  here. 

Yesterday  I  also  resumed  my  work,  in  which  I  had 
been  interrupted  awhile  by  hideous  ill-humour.  Nothing 
came  of  the  excursion  to  Rockel  at  Bath — as  you  per- 
ceive— since  Praeger  couldn't  accompany  me  ;  in  return, 
I'm  expecting  Eduard  here. — Liszt's  visit  is  out  of  the 
question  :  you  read  aright  ;  he  is  going  to  Hungary.  Has 
Hiilsen  sent  that  money  yet  to  Sulzer  ? 

Your  finding  nothing  more  about  our  concerts  in  the 
Zurich  papers  is  natural  enough  ;  it  can't  be  kept  up  thus 
for  ever.  The  ordinary  reports  in  the  press  here  are 
brief,  and  disparaging  or  appreciative  according  to  party. 
Moreover,  there  has  been  nothing  special  to  discuss  ;  only 
because  there  was  a  novelty  at  the  last  concert,  the  sym- 
phony by  Lucas,  has  Dawison  written  something  in  the 
Times  again  :  for  that  matter,  I  didn't  have  to  conduct 
the  nonett  of  Spohr,  the  execution  whereof  he  found  so 
poor.  Quite  funny  tales  are  told  me  of  this  Dawison.  It 
is  certain  that  he  has  been  bought  by  Meyerbeer's  agent 
(the  Jewish  music-dealer  Brandus)  to  pull  me  down,  to 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  219 

prevent  my  making  any  way  here  lest  I  might  have  a 
shot  at  Paris  later.  In  any  case  he  felt  he  had  lent 
me  more  weight  by  his  enormous  tirade  in  the  Times 
than  he  naturally  meant  to  ;  also,  his  editor  may  have 
given  him  a  hint  ;  so  he  has  confined  the  venting  of  his 
gall  on  me  to  his  own  rag,  the  "  Musical  World."  To 
criticise  me  to  the  bottom  there,  he  has  also  instituted  in 
the  said  rag  a  literal  translation  of  the  text  of  Lohengrin, 
which,  as  I  have  been  assured,  isn't  at  all  bad.  Now  this 
translation  is  being  generally  read  with  great  interest,  and 
arouses  the  liveliest  sensation  ;  so  the  stupid  fellow  simply 
is  playing  into  my  hands  again.  But  I  have  further 
been  assured  that  he — Dawison — himself  is  quite  en- 
raptured with  this  poem  and  told  a  friend  of  Liiders 
the  other  day  point-blank,  The  man  who  wrote  this 
text  must  be  a  very  demi-god  ! — Now,  what  is  one  to 
make  of  it  all  ?  Praeger  says,  it  is  just  like  him  :  he  can 
be  quite  transported  by  a  thing  one  day,  and  tear  it  to 
pieces  the  next  if  his  position  requires.  Pretty  tales  !— 
I  must  still  wait  for  anything  solid  and  sane  to  be  written 
about  me,  although  a  fitting  opportunity  to  make  my  full 
acquaintance  will  in  no  case  arise.  Meanwhile,  however, 
my  hand  alights  on  something  in  the  Spectator  anent  the 
second  concert  ;  it  is  appreciative,  exactly  as  far  as  the 
man  who  wrote  it  [Hogarth]  could  know  me.  Please  give 
it  to  Sulzer  for  his  provisional  edification. 

That  will  be  about  enough  for  you  to-day,  dear  Muzius 
(why  ever  do  I  choose  to  call  you  so?  mustn't  there  be 
something  behind  that  as  well  ?)  Take  good  care  of  your- 
self and  keep  in  thorough  good  health  for  me,  and  all  will 
come  right.  If  Pepsel  gets  lame  again,  just  give  his  paw 
another  sound  rubbing  ;  give  him  and  Knackerchen  my 
very  best  regards.  Yesterday  I  saw  a  perfectly  beautiful 


220  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

puppy  for  sale,  but — remained  faithful  and  staunch  ;  as  I 
am  in  everything,  to  sing  my  own  praises  for  once. — Have 
I  forgotten  anything  else  ?  ? 

So — farewell,  accept  my  heartiest  kisses  ;  be  thoroughly 
sensible,  hold  me  dear,  and  salute  the  whole  Switzery  a 
1000  times. 

Thy 

WILHELM  RICHARD  WAGNER. 

89. 

LONDON, --//awty  the — Wi  of  May  1855. 

DEAREST  SPOUSE, 

Yesterday  completed  the  9th  week  of  my  dog's-life 
in  L/ondon  ;  7  weeks  from  to-day  I  put  an  end  for  ever  to 
this  joy.  It's  all  calculated  out  already.  Tuesday,  26. 
June,  I  depart  in  the  evening,  reach  Paris  Wednesday 
forenoon,  and  the  only  question  is  whether  I  shall  leave 
for  Basle  on  Thursday  morning,  when  I  should  get  to 
Zurich  on  a  Friday,  which  you  may  not  like.  Write  me 
whether  I  shouldn't  start  from  Paris  a  day  later,  so  that  I 
might  arrive  at  Zurich  on  the  Saturday.  You  see,  I'm 
counting  nothing  but  the  time  for  leaving  here  and  reach- 
ing you  again  ;  everything  between  this  and  then  appears 
to  me  a  hell  !— 

When  I  had  closed  my  last  letter,  and  asked  myself  if 
I  hadn't  forgotten  anything,  it  finally  occurred  to  me,  too 
late,  that  I  hadn't  answered  your  question  about  the 
band  here.  At  first  I  thought  of  making  up  for  it  at 
once  in  a  letter  to  Boom  ;  then  I  reflected  that  Sulzer 
might  take  it  amiss,  perhaps,  if  I  wrote  to  him  before  him. 
So  I  shall  report  on  that  enquiry  to  yourself  to-day.  Un- 
fortunately the  orchestra  of  the  Philharmonic  Society, 
which  also  is  that  of  the  Italian  Opera,  consists  of  almost 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  221 

none  save — Englishmen  :   only   one   trumpeter,     a    trom- 
bonist,   and  a  third,   are  Germans  ;     of   Frenchmen    like- 
wise  only   3  ;  all    the    rest   are   good   English.      Not  that 
there  aren't  many  German    and   French  bandsmen  here  ; 
but  Costa,  who  had  the  appointment  of  the  bandsmen,    in 
his    time,    always  engaged  English  in  order  to  ingratiate 
himself.        Now,    these    gentlemen    play    quite    well,    no 
doubt,    have   thoroughly  mastered  their  instruments,    and 
can    take    anything   that    is   set   before   them  ;    but  —  like 
machines,  exactly  like  Geneva  snuffboxes.      For  instance, 
they  strictly  have  only  one  volume  of  sound,  and  can't  well 
play  softer  or  louder.      The  Paris  orchestra  is  far  superior. 
These  Englishmen  are  blocks  of  wood,  and  I  would  rather 
fan    a    German    dance-musician     into     fire,    than    one    of 
these  wearisome  fellows.      Moreover,  it  comes  very  difficult 
to   me  to   make   myself  intelligible  to  them  ;   French,    of 
course,  is  no  help  at  all,  and  whenever  I   have  a  minuter 
explanation  to  give,  Sainton  has  to  translate  it,    excepting 
a    few  short   phrases    which    I    have   picked   up,    such   as 
"  Once  more,  please  !  ' '    i.e.  "  noch   einmal  !  "      However, 
I  have  been  rewarded  at  last  for  my  bassoon  long-sufferings 
at   Zurich  :    the    first   bassoon   here,    a    Belgian,    is    truly 
excellent,  perhaps  the  best  musician  in   all   the  orchestra, 
excluding  Sainton  ;   he  often  has  made  me  quite  happy.— 
The  oboist  —albeit  an  Englishman — is  also  first-rate,    and 
especially  devoted  to  me  ;     on  the  other  hand,  the  clarinet 
— one  of  the  directors — is  bad,    and  I  much  preferred  Ott- 
Imhof  (you  may  get  him  told  that).      But  Sainton  is  a  long 
way  preferable  to   the  good   Hessian   Heisterhagen  ;   he  is 
the    best   leader   I   have   ever  had — by  no  means  barring 
Dresden.      If  I  ever  produce  the  Nibelungen,  he  is  to  be 
with  me.      Last  Friday  he  had  arranged  a  quartet  at  his 
rooms  in  my  honour,  with  — Piatti,    the  first   violoncello- 


222 

virtuoso  in  London  ;  to  anyone  who  knows  the  ropes  here, 
and  that  these  gentry  are  not  in  the  habit  of  handling 
their  bows  under  10  pounds  apiece  in  the  season,  it  was 
an  enormous  distinction.— 

So  much  for  the  orchestra. — These  last  few  days  I've 
had  the  pleasant  occupation  of  studying  the  scores  of  the 
magnificent  works  to  be  extra-rehearsed  the  day  after  to- 
morrow for  performance  in  course  of  the  ensuing  concerts. 
Sterling  English  compositions  ;  as  unimpeachably  correct 
as  an  example  in  arithmetic,  but  without  one  trace  of 
fancy  or  invention  :  the  joy  it  gives  me  to  be  let  conduct 
these  tone-poems,  you  may  readily  conceive  !  My  bitter- 
ness is  awful,  and  only  with  the  most  ferocious  irony, 
which  it  is  lucky  that  no  one  understands  here,  am  I  able 
to  stand  it  any  longer  and  hold  out.  However — I  don't 
intend  to  start  that  tale  again  !— 

I  have  had  to  submit  at  length — in  the  month  of 
May — to  putting  my  skin  into  an  under- vest  ;  naturally 
not  of  flannel,  though,  but  of  knitted  silk,  such  as 
Dr  R.  recommended  me  at  Zurich  before.  Everybody 
here  wears  such  a  vest,  and  declares  it  impossible  to 
survive  here  without  one.  Hitherto  I  had  rebelled  ; 
but  my  catarrhal  state  became  so  serious  with  the  per- 
sistent cold  wind,  and  so  affected  my  brain  in  particular, 
that  I  yielded  to  the  advice  of  my  friends  here  at  last. 
I  have  worn  the  under- vest  the  last  3  days,  and  at  any 
rate  feel  somewhat  better  for  it  already.  I  bought  them 
with  Eduard  Rockel,  and  luckily  found  a  bargain  ;  a 
remnant  of  exactly  2  vests  of  a  pattern  now  gone  out 
of  fashion,  for  which  reason  I  got  them  at  18  schill. 
apiece  after  24  had  been  asked.  As  I  have  been  com- 
pelled to  wear  a  foulard  under-vest  at  Zurich  in  the 
winter,  this  will  be  of  further  service  to  me  there  as 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  223 

well,  I  hope  ;  so  tell  R.  that  I've  followed  his  former 
advice.  The  trouble  given  me  by  this  everlasting  chill 
quite  baffles  description  ;  now  its  seat  is  in  the  lower 
regions,  now  in  the  brain,  and  I'm  so  tormented  all 
the  time,  that  I  could  often  cry  aloud  at  this  eternal 
obsession  by  an  evil  spirit.  And  you,  too,  don't  appear 
to  have  been  quite  the  thing  again  of  late,  since  you 
speak  of  having  been  so  hoarse  ?  I  haven't  suffered 
yet  from  that  here  excepting  at  the  concerts,  where 
I've  always  had  the  best  occasion  for  catching  cold 
thereafter.  Well,  take  the  greatest  care  of  yourself ; 
if  N.  tends  you  nicely,  I  may  bring  her  something 
back  as  well.  Sulzer's  indisposition  is  nothing  serious, 
I  suppose  ?  I  wish  him  good  recovery,  and  hope  my 
wish  may  come  too  late.  Send  the  Major  word  he's 
to  be  up  and  about  again  soon,  and  I'll  bring  him  a 
superb  collection  of  corns  :  meanwhile  he  must  be 
strengthened  with  chicken-broth  from  you — without 
eyes.*— 

Hiilsen's  not  having  sent  the  money  yet  is  most 
provoking  !  I'm  simply  waiting  for  your  answer  to 
my  last  enquiry,  to  write  the  gentleman  at  once,  to 
whom  I  had  to  send  my  receipt  in  advance. — How 
fatal  it  is  to  me,  good  God,  I  can't  possibly  tell  you  !— 
Neither  has  Anderson  made  me  another  payment  yet  ; 
he's  in  a  horrible  fix  himself  now — which  I'll  narrate 
to  you  by  mouth.— 

All  my  friends  here  are  taking  it  into  their  heads 
to  visit  us  in  Switzerland  ;  I  shouldn't  be  surprised  if 
Praeger  came  nearly  as  soon  as  myself.  Ed.  Rockel, 
who  wants  to  see  his  father  at  Wiesbaden  at  the  same 


*  The  pun  is  on  "  Hilhneraugen?  lit.  "  hen-eyes." — Tr. 


224  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

time,  will  visit  us  almost  for  certain.  He  really  is  a 
very  decent  fellow  ;  last  Sunday  he  treated  me  and  the 
Praegers  to  a  famous  fish-dinner  at  Greenwich.  To-day 
I  go  to  Sainton  and  Liiders,  tomorrow  to  Praeger's  ; 
yesterday  Klindworth  dined  with  myself.  Liszt  has 
written  me  in  a  very  friendly  tone  again  ;  he  will  visit 
us  in  Switzerland  next  September.  May  I  only  have 
recovered  my  voice  then  ;  but  I  fear  the  wretched  thing 
will  never  return.— 

There,    I    have    talked   myself   dry    for    once    again  ; 
which  often  is  a  need  to  me  in  this  shameful  existence. 
For   your   Sebastopopopol    news    I    thank    you    most    sin- 
cerely ;   it's  enough   to  make  one  laugh,  that  you  should 
have  to  supply  me   from  Zurich  with  that  sort  of  thing. 
At    bottom,    however,    this    Popel    is    indifferent    to    me  ; 
the    whole    affair    is    arrant    nonsense    scarcely    worth     a 
glance.      How   happy  I   shall   be,   on  the   contrary,   when 
I    breathe    the    pure    delicious    air   of    Seelisberg    again  ; 
here  I  simply  grow  stupider  day  by  day.      Often   I   stare 
at  my  music-paper  for  half  an  hour  at  a  stretch   without 
the    remotest    idea    what    to    write  ;    as    for    that,    I    am 
assured    it's   the    same    with    everyone    here,     the    heavy 
English   atmosphere  seeming  to   choke  all   volatility  and 
freedom  of  the   mind.      I  hardly  think  I   shall  get   even 
my    second    act    finished    now,    so    slowly    my    work     is 
crawling   on.      What   a    folly   it    was   of  me,    by   God,    to 
come    to    London  !  !  ! — No    matter,    one   must    buy    one's 
wisdom. — Fare    splendidly    well,    good    old    Mienel,    hip 
plenty   of  baths    and   think   of  your  poor   husband,    who 
well    deserves    that    one    should    let    Brex    spinster    come 
again  ! 

Na,    that   will  be   a  joy ;    I   hold   my   tongue  ! — Once 
more,    then,    be    well    and    of    "food    cheer  ;    I've    already 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  225 

been   here   2   weeks  longer   than   I    have  to   go  on  being 
here.      Salute  left  and  right,  and  hold  him  dear 

—who 

—Virtue 

— is 

—itself !  !  ! 

90. 

LONDON,   15.    May  1855. 

MY  DEAR  MINNA, 

My  last  letter  was  merrily  worded,  not  because 
I  felt  merry,  but  simply  because  I  wished  to  appear  so 
to  you.  I  had  previously  given  you  to  understand  that 
I  should  already  have  thrown  up  my  engagement  here 
if  it  hadn't  been  for  my  regard  for  you;  for  I  know 
it  would  have  greatly  distressed  you,  whereas  I  don't 
care  in  the  least,  for  my  own  part,  what  the  newspapers 
might  have  written  about  my  sudden  throwing  up  of 
that  engagement.  Not  to  let  my  resolution  to  hold  out 
here  for  your  sake  in  particular  appear  too  heavy  a 
reproach  to  you  through  my  laments,  I  tried  to  brighten 
myself  up  in  my  letter  to  you  as  much  as  possible  ; 
for  I  saw  that  you,  too,  were  in  need  of  good  humour, 
and  I  wanted  to  contribute  to  it  that  way.  But  unfor- 
tunately I  now  perceive  that  all  my  show  of  mirth 
could  do,  was  to  embitter  you  against  me,  and  that 
for  reason  of  a  money  trouble  so  acute  that  it  even 
affects  your  health  anew.  Of  course  I  shouldn't  dream 
of  making  that  a  reproach  to  you,  and  I  must  admit 
your  perfect  right  to  feel  bitter  ;  only,  you  do  wrong 
to  lay  the  blame  for  the  present  dilemma  on  me.  As 
I  foresaw  that  no  fees  would  be  coining  in  from  theatres 
just  now,  at  the  very  commencement  of  my  being  here 
VOL.  i  15 


226          RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

I  wrote  to  Sulzer  that  I  meant  to  try  and  raise  the 
whole  amount  of  my  fee  for  the  concerts  on  a  promissory 
note — with  Praeger's  assistance — in  order  at  once  to 
send  you  out  of  it  the  money  needed  for  your  keep  at 
Zurich.  Thereupon  Sulzer  wrote  and  begged  me  on  no 
account  to  do  so,  particularly  since  it  was  unnecessary 
for  your  sake,  as  he  could  assure  me  he  had  already 
prepared  himself  to  supply  from  his  own  pocket  what- 
ever you  needed  during  my  absence.  That  wouldn't 
have  eased  my  mind,  however,  had  not  the  prospect 
at  the  same  time  opened  to  me  of  receiving  the  advance 
of  TOO  Ld'or  from  Berlin,  which — as  I  begged  you  at 
once  to  tell  Sulzer — I  should  direct  to  be  forwarded 
to  the  latter.  Finally,  a  month  from  to-day  I  received 
consent  to  that  advance,  and  the  receipt  demanded  for 
it  went  off  to  Berlin  the  selfsame  day,  together  with 
my  instructions  to  despatch  the  money  to  S.  forthwith. 
Consequently  you  will  agree  with  me,  I  hope,  that  I 
was  justified  in  feeling  at  ease  about  your  situation, 
and  in  believing  I  had  done  everything  needful  for 
your  security.  That  Hiilsen  should  not  have  sent  the 
money  even  to  this  day,  I  certainly  couldn't  have 
anticipated  from  a  gentleman  so  extolled  to  me  as 
supremely  handsome  in  his  dealings  ;  your  latest  in- 
formation, however,  with  your  assurance  that  Sulzer  has 
left  you  in  the  lurch  despite  his  protestations,  sufficed 
to  induce  me  to  get  money  from  Anderson  at  once  so 
as  to  send  Sulzer  a  bill  of  exchange  for  1000  //'.,  which 
will  have  reached  Zurich  as  I  write  these  lines  to-day, 
I  hope,  and  thus  have  put  a  thorough  stop  to  your 
dilemma.  I  am  also  expecting  a  reply  from  Hiilsen 
during  the  next  few  days,  and  if  I  don't  hear  that  the 
100  L/d'or  have  arrived  at  Zurich  within  a  fortnight, 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  227 

I  shall  ask  for  money  again  here  after  the  6th  concert, 
to  forward  to  Zurich. 

—As  for  my  life  here,  the  worries  of  your  situation 
(deeply  felt  by  me,  in  truth  !)  inspire  you  with  a  bitter- 
ness which  renders  you  unjust  to  me.  It  would  be 
most  foolish  to  want  to  pay  you  out  in  kind,  but  just 
to  guide  you  away  from  that  injustice — for  your  own 
sake — I  again  must  repeat  to  you  that  you  are  under 
a  mistake  about  my  style  of  life  here.  In  that  regard 
I  must  confess  it  needed  nothing  save  a  money  fix  to 
do  for  me  completely.  I  lead  the  dreariest,  most 
melancholy  and  lonesome  life  one  can  conceive,  and — 
which  is  the  worst  of  it — with  neither  aim  nor  profit. 
Moreover,  the  smallest  attempt  at  distraction  always 
sets  my  budget  in  disorder  ;  a  thing  which  those  alone 
can  comprehend,  however,  who  are  really  acquainted 
with  London  and  can  allow  for  a  heap  of  expenses 
which  nobody  leading  a  life  like  that  at  Zurich,  for 
instance,  can  form  the  least  idea  of.  Do  not  expect 
me  to  go  into  everything  here  ;  in  due  season  you 
shall  hear  it  all  by  word  of  mouth.  Only  thus  much  : 
whenever  I  have  visited  a  theatre,  e.g.,  it  has  cost  me 
5  schill.  each  time — not  counting  omnibus  ;  when  I 
have  been  invited  to  the  Italian  Opera — gratis — I  have 
always  had  to  fetch  Mad.  Hogarth  and  daughter  (in 
whose  box  I  sat)  and  escort  them  home,  the  cab-fare 
costing  me  exactly  5  sch.  again.  The  transaction  for 
the  remittance  to  Sulzer  cost  5  sch.,  and  the  cab-fare 
(twice — since  everything  is  shamefully  dilatory  and 
complicated — especially  for  foreigners)  another  5  sch.— 
If  I  buy  a  fresh  supply  of  stamps — especially  for  busi- 
ness letters  to  Germany — I  have  to  put  upwards  of 
^  a  pound  down  ;  22  cigars  cost  me  6  sch.  When  I 


228  RICHARD    TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

lay  in  a  fresh  stock  of  provisions,  ham  or  wine,  it 
promptly  runs  into  pounds.  It  is  so  cold  here,  that 
I  still  consume  4  schillings'  worth  of  coal  a  week, 
etc.,  etc. — In  brief,  I've  given  up  all  thought  of  more 
extensive  outings,  to  the  country,  the  sea-side,  or  such- 
like, and  hereby  declare  that  I  shall  bring  back  1000  fr. 
of  money  saved,  but  not  a  penny  more  :  whoever  under- 
stands it  better,  let  him  go  to  London  in  my  place 
next  time  ;  a  pleasure  I  accord  him  with  all  my  heart  ! 
To  be  sure,  I've  provided  myself  with  sundry  articles, 
and  in  particular  a  whole  new  suit  ;  you  also  are  to 
have  your  little  presents  :  but  this  itself  only  becomes 
possible  through  my  throwing  in  a  small  fee  for  my 
Faust  overture  from  Hartels  with  which  I  had  intended 
to  surprise  you — as  a  gift.  As  said,  whoever  under- 
stands it  better,  let  him  come  next  time  in  place  of 
me  ;  I  cannot  manage  otherwise,  and  there's  an  end  ! — 

The  Tannhauser  overture  went  quite  beautifully  at 
yesterday's  concert  ;  when  it  was  over,  the  first  thing  I 
heard  was  loud  hisses  from  a  single  person,  but  then  it 
was  applauded  fairly  well,  although  the  hissing  was  kept 
up  by  one  or  two.  Besides  a  Mozart  symph.,  we  had 
the  Pastoral  symph.,  which  went  quite  passably,  a  half- 
hour  pianoforte  concerto  by  Chopin,  4  vocal  pieces,  and 
to  wind  up,  the  overture  to  Preziosa.  I  need  say  no  more 
about  this  concert.  The  Frankfort  correspondent  in  the 
Zurich  Tageblatt  might  be  corrected  [to  the  effect]  that 
the  dissatisfaction  is  not  "mutual,"  but  confined  to  my- 
self;  the  Directors  have  no  inkling  of  it,  and  the  concert 
audience,  on  the  contrary,  is  said  to  set  much  store 
upon  me,  though  it  certainly  might  prove  it  somewhat 
more  adroitly  than  appears  to  be  good  English  tone. 
Thus  much  is  certain  :  there  was  a  large  attendance 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  229 

yesterday,  and  the  room  for  the  first  time  was  packed  : 
this  was  generally  attributed  to  the  interest  in  my  com- 
positions ;  possibly  that  is  so.  For  the  rest,  these  concerts, 
with  all  that  comes  to  light  there,  are  a  penance  to  me, 
and  I  will  keep  silence  to-day  on  the  bitterness  that  often 
fills  me  to  the  point  of  nausea.  Enough — I  shall  conduct 
3  concerts  more,  and  6  weeks  from  to-day  I  depart  ;  God 
grant  I  may  find  all  well  at  Zurich,  and  that  your  own 
atrocious  cares  don't  further  undermine  your  health  !  It 
only  needed  that  as  climax,  that  one  should  fret  oneself 
to  death  about  these  cares.  Of  a  truth,  dear  Minna, 
we've — no  luck  !  Just  as  everything  always  turns  out 
as  badly  for  us  as  it  possibly  can,  so  with  this  Berlin 
Intendant  once  more  ;  who  could  have  foreseen  such 
remissness  !  Instead  of  my  considering  you  quite  well 
provided  for,  at  this  very  moment  you  are  in  the  most 
objectionable  straits  :  I  should  like — !  But  we  shall  see.— 
I  have  nothing  further  to  communicate  to  you  to-day  ; 
it  isn't  worth  the  while.  Sainton  (a  Frenchman),  L,iiders 
(a  Hamburger),  and  Herr  and  Frau  Praeger  (the  latter 
French,  and  far  advanced  in  pregnancy)  send  you  their 
kindest  regards  ;  they  came  to  my  rooms  after  yesterday's 
concert,  and  devoted  much  good  will  to  helping  me  rectify 
my  not  particularly  rosy  mood.  All  that  dissatifies  them, 
is  that  every  day  of  my  sojourn  here  should  not  be  turned 
into  a  festival  of  thanks  for  the  extraordinariness  of  what 
I  offer  people  ;  and  if  things  went  according  to  their 
mind,  I  should  be  carried  round  in  triumph  all  the  while. 
This  time  Herr  Ellerton  took  me  to  the  concert  in  his 
carriage  ;  you  should  hear  him  speak  about  his  fellow- 
countrymen  !  He  also  is  the  first  and  only  Englishman 
who  thinks  nothing  of  Mendelssohn  ;  something  quite  new 
to  me. — 


230  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Give  our  friends  my  best  regards.      Tell  Mad.  Stockar 

[their  landlady]  I'm  very  CUrioUS  to  see  her  new  works  [water- 
colours]  as  to  which  you  write  me  such  extraordinary 
things. 

I  hope  to  learn  from  your  next  letter  that  my  bill  of 
exchange  has  arrived,  and — better  furnished  with  money— 
you  are  now  in  better  humour  also.  What  you  write  me 
about  the  bad  effect  upon  your  health,  worries  me  more 
than  I  can  tell  you  !  At  any  rate  don't  trouble  on  the 
score  of  visitors  ;  probably  nothing  much  will  come  of 
it,  and  they  shouldn't  prove  a  load  to  von  at  all.  So 
farewell,  poor  good  Wife  ;  restore  yourself,  and  make  me 
happy  with  good  tidings  of  your  health  !  Greet  Nette, 
too,  and  rest  assured — I  am  leading  no  life  of  pleasiire 
here,  but  looking  forward  to  home  in  every  respect  ! 
Farewell, 

Thy  RICH. 

Hearty  greetings  to  Sulzer.  I  send  him  best  thanks 
for  his  letter  :  but  tell  him,  as  concerns  the  philosophic 
part  of  it,  I've  racked  my  brains  to  find  its  application  to 
my  words  ;  and  as  for  England's  decadence,  I  had  simply 
listened  to  the  song  which  the  birds  on  the  eaves  all  sing 
here,  the  text  whereof  is  most  indifferent  to  me  on  the 
whole. 

Give  Boom  my  greetings  too. 

91. 

'Twas  in  the  lovely  month   of  May 
that   Richard  Wagner  burst  his  shell  : 
therein  had  he  prolonged  his  stay, 
his  best  friends  think   it  were  as  well. 

Thus  I   congratulate  myself  in    the  name  of  you   all   for 
my  birthday  ! 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  231 

LONDON,  19.  May  1855. 

I've  simply  nothing  to  write  you  to-day,  dear  Minna, 
beyond  my  anxiety  lest  my  letter  to  Sulzer  with  the  bill 
of  exchange  may  not  have  arrived  safely,  as  I  haven't 
yet  heard  from  him,  though  he  easily  might  have  dropped 
me  a  couple  of  lines.  I  sent  him  that  letter  last  Satur- 
day— a  week  from  to-day — consequently  he  must  have 
received  it  Tuesday  morning.  Your  writing  me  on 
Tuesday  (15.  May)  without  any  mention  of  it,  I  explained 
to  myself  yesterday  on  the  simple  assumption  that  you 
posted  your  letter  to  me  in  the  afternoon,  whilst  Sulzer 
did  not  call  on  you  till  evening.  But  then  you  could 
have  written  me  on  Wednesday,  to  relieve  my  mind  about 
the  bill's  arrival?  However,  that's  always  the  way; 
what  I  expect  for  quite  certain,  is  never  punctual  in 
turning  up,  and  so  my  head  is  always  filled  with  nothing 
but  unrest.  Neither  has  Hiilsen  answered  me  as  yet. 
On  the  other  hand  a  young  man  here,  son  of  a  deceased 
tailor  at  Riga,  has  presented  a  bill  for  over  34  roubles  ; 
with  the  best  conscience  I  don't  know  if  I  really  owe  the 
money  still  [from  1837-39!].  In  any  case  it  is  unpleasant 
for  me  to  have  to  refuse  the  young  fellow,  who  was  quite 
delighted  at  the  prospect  of  recovering  the  sum  here — 
where  I  stand  in  such  glory.  It's  a  veritable  joy.  If 
this  ragamuffin  world  becomes  too  mad  for  me  ere  long, 
I  shall  clothe  myself  in  sackcloth  and  ashes  ;  but  of  a 
certainty  I  also  shall  make  no  more  music  then  :  you  may 
all  depend  on  t licit.— 

For  the  rest,  I  thank  you  profusely  for  your  yester- 
day's pink  letter.  I  shall  have  to  forgive  your  repeated 
enquiry  touching  my  debt  to  Karl  Ritter,  together  with 
your  singular  allusions  to  "after-pains  from  Sitten,"  since 
I  unfortunately  have  had  to  accustom  myself  to  seeing 


232  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

things  brought  on  the  carpet  again  and  again  by  you  after 
they  had  been  fully  discussed  and  set  right.  Therefore  it 
shall  not  vex  me  to  explain  to  you  once  more  that  from 
Zurich  in  vSeptember  of  last  year  I  borrowed  1000  thaler 
(3800  //'.)  from  Karl,  to  pay  off  pressing  debts,  which 
he  has  refunded  to  himself  by  keeping  back  my  year's 
allowance  :  1500  fr.  last  autumn,  1500/7'.  this  April,  and 
800  fr.  next  autumn.  Accordingly,  instead  of  my  having 
to  devote  my  takings  to  repaying  Karl,  they  have  been 
employed  to  fill  the  place  of  that  withheld  allowance  ; 
which  comes  to  the  same  thing,  only  that  their  incoming 
was  not  so  regular.  Now  that  is  at  an  end,  however, 
through  Berlin  and  my  London  savings. — So  set  your 
mind  at  rest  on  this  point  also. — But  next  time  you  are 
writing  me  to  London^  please  ask  me  questions  about 
other  things  ;  I  have  disagreeables  and  annoyances  enough 
here  already,  God  knows  !  — 

—I  will  attend  to  the  cotton  stockings  with  pleasure. 
I  have  abandoned  all  idea  of  gifts  for  our  acquaintances  ; 
I  think  you  are  quite  right.  Next  time  I'll  write  you  all 
particulars  about  my  advent  ;  I  fancy  we  had  better  stay 
a  week  at  Zurich  first,  and  not  go  to  Seelisberg  till  after 
that — as  you  originally  proposed  ;  but  you  might  as  well 
order  our  rooms  in  advance. — I'm  very  sorry  for  Baum- 
gartner's  misfortune  ;  give  him  my  condolence.— 

It  continues  cold  and  wintry  here.  Yesterday  I  had 
a  call  from  Dr.  Franck,  who  means  to  get  his  son  trained 
in  the  English  marine.  Tomorrow  I'm  invited  by  Eller- 
ton.  Otherwise  my  life  is  supremely  amusing,  glorious 
and  gay,  as  you  indeed  will  suppose.  Yesterday  I  took 
to  sweating  again. — Reassure  me  about  your  health  ;  it  is 
to  be  hoped  you'll  soon  be  looking  out  for  a  good  maid. 
I  have  a  good,  handv  and  willing  indoor  servant  here  ; 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  233 

shall  I  bring  him  with  me  ? — I  know  of  absolutely  nothing 
fresh,  but  am  very  uneasy  about  Sulzer's  silence  concern- 
ing the  draft  ;  let  us  hope  a  letter  from  him  is  already  on 
the  road. 

Best  greetings  to  the  house  ;  I  shall  thoroughly 
appreciate  the  week  there.  The  inner  affliction  I  put 
up  with  at  having  to  abide  by  this  mortifying  engagement 
here,  I  can  hardly  express.  Be  glad  you're  unacquainted 
with  that  sort  of  affliction. — Take  care  of  your  health  : 

The  most  instant  request  of  Thy 

R.- 

92. 

LONDON,  22    May  1855. 

MY  POOR  DEAR  MINNA, 

You  have  made  me  a  very  mournful  birthday- 
present  with  the  news  of  your  illness  !  Your  last  tidings, 
however,  already  pointed  to  your  having  caught  a  severe 
cold,  and  I  almost  must  deem  it  as  well  that  the  immanent 
storm  is  discharging  its  force  in  a  sound  inflammation, 
which  is  always  better  than  dragging  an  uneasy  feeling 
about  with  one  of  being  inwardly  unwell.  Thus  it  was 
a  good  thing  in  the  end  that  you  underwent  that  fever 
and  inflammation  before  your  journey  of  last  year,  as  you 
got  rid  of  what  was  lurking  in  your  system,  and  then  felt 
so  much  better  at  last  that  I  still  remember  with  great 
joy  how  well  you  looked  on  your  return.  You  will  see 
from  these  remarks  that,  to  support  the  bad  news,  I  at 
once  am  trying  to  forecast  this  case's  progress  in  a 
favourable  light  ;  in  which  I  luckily  believe  I've  hit  the 
mark  this  time.  But  I  hope  you  kindly  think  of  sending 
me  oftener  than  usual  a  few  lines  — however  few — to  keep 
me  posted  in  your  state  of  health  ;  at  any  rate  do  so  as 


234  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

soon  as  this  letter  arrives,  and  continue  it  each  day  till 
you  can  write  me  that  you're  quite  restored  again.  To 
be  sure,  that  thorough  restoration  is  generally  a  slow 
affair,  because  fever  always  pulls  you  down  and  leaves 
much  weakness  behind  for  some  time  ;  yet  I  may  hope 
to  find  you  quite  well  again  on  my  return,  and  whatever 
may  still  be  lacking  we  shall  certainly  put  to  rights 
together  on  the  Seelisberg,  where  I  am  going  to  behave 
myself  as  gently  as  a  lamb  this  time,  am  I  not? — So — 
bear  up,  my  dear  old  Minna  ! 

Unfortunately  you  have  lately  received  a  pair  of  cross 
letters  from  me,  and  what  particularly  grieves  me  is  that 
to-day  itself,  as  I'm  writing  these  lines,  you  will  be 
getting  my  last  letter,  in  which  I  express  myself  some- 
what testily  about  an  enquiry  of  yours.  Ah,  child,  if  you 
only  knew  how  these  silly  money  difficulties  on  your  side 
helped  to  put  me  out  just  then  ;  it  seemed  to  me  as  if  one 
were  never  to  experience  anything  reasonable  and  cheering 
again  ;  which — with  all  the  rest  I  have  to  swallow  here  — 
gave  me  a  regular  fit  of  the  blues.  All  that  has  since 
come  straight,  however,  and  if  friend  Sulzer  had  only 
fulfilled  his  own  offer  a  little  more  punctually,  neither 
would  you  have  suffered  care,  perplexity  and  bother,  nor 
I  have  needed  to  give  myself  somewhat  away  with 
Anderson  here  and  with  Hiilsen  at  Berlin — which  was  not 
exactly  to  my  taste  ;  for  Hiilsen  wrote  me  yesterday  that 
the  money  had  been  despatched  before  receipt  of  my 
reminder,  which  Sulzer  simultaneously  confirmed.  Don't 
be  angry  with  me,  then,  if  in  such  circumstances  I  was 
less  able  to  conceal  my  ill-humour  than,  out  of  due  regard 
for  you  and  your  condition,  I  usually  endeavour  to.  No 
matter,  everything's  in  order  now,  and  I  can  only  wish 
your  health  may  also  soon  be  quite  restored,  as  it  really 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  235 

was  my  concern  for  it  that  most  disturbed  and  nettled  me 
on  that  occasion.  Do  give  me  a  thorough  good  account 
of  it  soon  ! — 

I  haven't  much  to  tell  you  of  the  progress  of  my  life 
here.  Unfortunately  my  own  health  is  not  in  the  very 
best  order  ;  what  plagues  me  most  is  weakness  of  diges- 
tion :  I  greatly  miss  the  tender  vegetables  you  always 
serve  me  up  so  excellently  ;  here  I  stuff  myself  with 
strictly  nothing  but  meat  and  potatoes,  which  suits  me 
very  badly.  I  can  hardly  ever  get  to  sleep  before  i  in 
the  morning,  and  therefore  always  rise  quite  late  and  very 
peevish  ;  then  I  stare  for  long  into  the  cold  grey  atmo- 
sphere, and  need  an  effort  to  constrain  myself  to  do  a  little 
work.  For  some  time  past  I  have  been  taking  cocoa  for 
breakfast  again,  with  rusks,  which  I've  unearthed  here  at 
last.  When  I  feel  less  of  a  weight  on  me,  for  lunch  I 
take  a  cup  of  bouillon  with  an  egg  ;  otherwise  a  small 
bottle  of  seltzer  water,  frequently  in  fact  with  milk. 
Then  I  slink  from  the  house  toward  3  o'clock,  prowl 
about  in  Regents  Park,  where  the  beautiful  ducks  and 
swans  form  my  chief  entertainment  ;  hunt  up  Liiders  or 
Klindworth  ;  and  then,  if  I'm  not  dining  at  the  former's 
(with  Sainton)  or  Prager's,  return  home  to  my  lonely 
dinner,  which  usually  concludes  my  day's  work.  - 

Last  Sunday  I  had  been  invited  by  Ellerton  ;  his  wife 
(a  Lady)  still  being  ill  in  the  country,  he  entertained  me 
at  a  club  he  is  member  of,  where  one  is  very  well  served. 
Sainton,  whom  he  had  also  invited,  was  unfortunately 
detained  ;  but  besides  Liiders  and  Anderson  there  were 
present  two  old  gentlemen,  subscribers  to  the  Phil- 
harmonic, who  seemed  very  satisfied  with  me.  It  is 
certain  I'm  making  quite  a  singular  sensation  here,  and 
my  friends  say  that  the  actual  success  of  my  appearance 


236  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

will  only  shew  up  later,  perhaps  after  a  few  years,  when 
I  might  even  get  marvellous  orders  from  here.  Thus  the 
Tannhauser  overture  seems  to  have  really  made  more 
impression  upon  many  people  than  I  believed  ;  Ellerton 
shewed  me,  among  other  things,  a  letter  from  a  lady  of 
high  rank  expressing  the  most  rapturous  admiration  of  it. 
So  much,  accordingly,  seems  certain  :  already  I  have  a 
small  party  here  that  regards  me  as  a  heaven-sent 
wonder,  and  upon  which — as  also  on  the  audience  in 
general — the  venomous  critics,  who  could  almost  burst  for 
gall  and  fury,  exert  not  the  smallest  influence,  or  at  most 
an  influence  in  my  favour.  But  alack,  I've  neither  taste 
nor  time  to  cultivate  all  this  and  wait,  since  I  know  too  well 
the  insufficiency  and  inappropriateness  of  my  position  ; 
whilst  this  public's  true  distinctive  feature,  incompetence 
for  music,  repels  me  far  too  much.  Get  to  know  a  thorough 
English  soul,  what  a  wooden  creation  of  God's  it  is  !— 

On  the  top  of  it  all  I  have  only  to  inform  you  that 
people  in  America  have  been  casting  strong  glances  my 
way,  and  an  enquiry  has  already  reached  Prager  from  a 
Air.  Mason,  whether  I  might  be  prepared  to  accept  the 
call  and  offer  of  several  combined  societies  in  New  York 
to  present  my  things  there  ;  they  hope  to  let  me  have  the 
formal  invitation  in  a  few  months'  time.  Just  imagine 
the  bliss  of  that  prospect,  immediately  after  my  return 
from  London  to  have  to  set  sail  again  for  America  !  At 
any  rate  you  would  be  of  the  party,  would  you  not  ?  or 
should  we  prefer  to  remain  in  the  Escherhauser  after  all  ? 
I  rather  think  so.  For  my  own  part  at  least,  I  am 
licartily  sick  of  it,  so  sick  that  I  swear  that  nothing  shall 
decoy  me  from  my  work  again  ;  indeed  I  am  not  made 
for  this  farrago,  and  should  precious  soon  be  done  for, 
were  I  forced  into  it. — No,  my  dear  Minna,  let  us  quietly 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  237 

keep    to  our  beautiful   Switzerland,    attending   to   health 
and    good    temper  ;  and   if   a   contented    mind   can    help 
toward  that,    I'll  be  content  in  every  way  henceforward, 
and  gladly  not  grudge  to  others  their  being  better  off.— 
Full  stop  !— 

If  Klepperbein  can  make  nothing  better  than  such 
portraits,  I  should  advise  him  to  drop  it  ;  I  could  do  as 
well  myself  by  smearing  a  handful  of  ink  over  the  paper. 
And  yet  the  stupid  photograph  has  touched  me  :  there 
always  is  something  direct  about  it  that  attracts  ;  the 
outline  of  your  form  is  plainly  recognisable,  and  it 
suddenly  seemed  as  if  you  were  standing  before  me.  Peps 
surprises  me  whenever  I  see  him  again,  and  so  in  this 
picture  ;  it  always  moves  me  deeply  when  I  think  of  the 
old  fellow's  being  still  alive  and  with  us.  He  doesn't 
appear  to  have  grown  very  slim,  though  ;  as  he  lies  at 
your  feet  there,  one  remarks  his  old  podgy  obesity.  I 
hope  you're  out  of  bed  again  by  to-day  ;  if  not,  how  goes 
it  with  Knackerchen  ?  Hasn't  he  come  flying  into  the 
bedroom  again  to  find  you  ?  As  soon  as  you've  a  little 
strength  again,  give  Peps  a  good  dig  in  his  fat  ribs,  in 
my  name,  and  follow7  it  up  with  a  spank  ;  that  will  do 
him  good  !— 

I  shall  leave  here  five  weeks  from  to-day,  and  get  to 
Zurich  and  my  old  Muzius  on  Saturday  the  3Oth  June  at 
latest.  All  details  concerning  my  arrival  we  will  settle 
later  on  ;  we've  plenty  of  time  for  that,  alas  !  But  don't 
you  worry  in  the  slightest  as  to  guests  ;  probably  Prager 
will  be  unable  to  come  at  all,  and  Rockel  at  the  outside 
would  only  come  to  Seelisberg  for  a  day.  In  no  case 
should  we  put  ourselves  the  least  bit  out.  So — relieve 
your  mind  and  keep  your  courage  up.  The  worst  is  over 
now,  and  in  general  I  trust  we  both  have  got  the  worst 


238  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

part  of  our  life  behind  us  !     A  thousand  fervent  wishes  for 
your  welfare  are  herewith  sent  you  on  his  birthday  by 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

I  have  just  written  a  letter  to  Wesendonck  also, — his 
(which  reached  this  house,  remarkably  enough,  two  hours 
earlier  than  yours)  has  given  me  great  and  hearty  joy  ;  he 
wrote  me  very  amiably  and  nicely.  Poor  devil  that  I  am, 
though,  I  couldn't  help  almost  laughing  at  the  purse.— 

93. 

LONDON,  25.   May   1855. 

Your  letter  of  to-day,  dear  good  Mienel,  has  conferred 
a  great  boon  on  me  ;  the  very  first  glance  dispelled  my 
serious  fears  about  your  health  ;  for  I  saw  that  you  had 
been  able  to  write  so  much,  though  it  is  only  3  days  since 
you  were  hardly  able  to  write  at  all.  Indeed  I  had  been 
very  anxious,  and  as  I  know  how  long  the  weakness  after 
high  fever  continues,  I  was  almost  afraid  I  should  get  no 
letter  from  you  to-day  whatever  :  the  greater,  naturally, 
was  my  delight.  But  I  am  sure  it  was  a  transgression 
of  R.'s  orders,  and  all  I  now  fervently  wish,  is  that  you 
haven't  harmed  yourself  thereby  and  brought  on  a  fresh 
attack  of  fever.  Still,  you  appear  to  be  getting  over  it 
better  this  time  than  last  autumn,  on  the  whole,  and  I 
congratulate  you  with  all  my  heart.  Your  being  able  to 
make  such  beautiful  verses  straight  off,  however,  surely 
is  also  a  result  of  the  fever  ;  I  should  think  you  must 
have  been  quite  exhausted  after  this  poetic  effusion.  If 
that  sort  of  thing  goes  on,  you'll  be  writing  me  opera- 
texts  in  the  long  run  ;  Lord,  had  I  known  it  before,  what 
a  deal  of  pains  you  might  have  saved  me  !  Who  knows 
how  it  may  turn  out  yet  ?  If  my  head  remains  as  dull 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  239 

and  heavy  as  it  is  at  present,  I'm  unlikely  to  write  poetry 
again  in  all  my  life.  The  trouble  any  working  gives  me 
is  boundless,  and  my  condition  wellnigh  insupportable  ;  I 
feel  each  day  as  if  I  had  been  up  all  night,  heavy,  limp, 
a  wreck.  Of  the  Walkiire  I  shall  bring  back  nothing 
finished  beyond  the  first  half  of  the  second  act,  and  just 
this  act  is  such  a  great  exertion  because  it  contains  none 
but  situations  of  atrocious  suffering  ;  the  "  Young  Sieg- 
fried "  will  naturally  go  much  easier  and  faster,  so  much 
depends  upon  a  cheerful  subject.  I  no  longer  believe  I  shall 
begin  it  this  year,  though  ;  my  mind  is  very  weary  ! — 

You  surely  do  not  doubt  my  holding  out  here  to  the 
end  ;  after  my  supporting  the  last  3  months,  it  would 
be  very  stupid  if  I  finally  lost  patience  with  the  remnant. 
So  we  won't  speak  of  that  again.  Tomorrow  I  have  the 
rehearsal  for  the  6th  concert  :  a  symphony  by  an  English- 
man— Potter,  a  queer  old  fish  who  thoroughly  amuses  me, 
and  has  turned  my  initial  anger  at  his  fabrication  into 
laughter  ;  a  symphony  by  Mendelssohn  (which  I  once 
gave  at  Dresden  ["Scotch"]  and  at  any  rate  is  better  than 
the  earlier)  ;  an  overture  by  Spohr  (awful  !),  singings  of 
sorts,  and  as  recompense  for  it  all,  at  last  the  Beethovenian 
overture  to  Leonora  !  Moreover,  Sainton  will  play  a  violin 
concerto  of  Beethoven's,  which  he  already  has  rendered 
to  me  at  his  rooms,  and  which  I  am  glad  to  conduct  this 
time.  —  Whether  the  Queen  will  yet  come  to  a  concert,  is 
still  undecided  ;  neither  does  it  concern  me  any  more.  — 
Herr  Benecke,  who  may  have  been  offended  by  my  rather 
cold  conducting  of  a  Mendelssohnian  symphony  (in  glace 
gloves),  has  become  reconciled  to  me  again  through  the 
last  concert,  and  in  particular  through  the  Tannhauser 
overture  ;  so  I  have  at  last  had  to  accept  for  next  Sunday, 
when — as  I  hear — he  also  has  invited  all  the  music-Jews 


540 


RICHARD   TO    MINNA   WAGNER 


of  London  in  my  honour.      God,  how   absurd  I    appear  to 
myself  here  ! 

I  feel  as  grateful  to  you  for  your  present  as  if  I  had 
already  received  it  ;  but  I  think  it  very  luxurious  of 
you  to  want  to  spread  such  a  beautiful  cover  on  the 
piano-stool  at  once  ;  surely  you  will  put  the  new  em- 
broidery away  to  save  for  me.  You  had  a  happy 
thought  with  the  camp-stool,  for  which  I  thank  you 
much  ;  but  before  you  get  the  carpenter  to  make  it, 
remark  my  ensuing  description  of  such  a  chair,  taken 
from  a  pattern  one  meets  in  almost  every  house  in 
England— in  mine  as  well.  It  consists  of  two  portions, 
which  are  joined  in  the  middle  of  the  seat  in  the  following 
fashion,  and  can  be  shut  up  flat  : 

i.   a 


2. 


i.    The  chair  when  it  is  set  open.      E  is  the  axis  with 
the  screw  ;   from   A   to   C   forms  the  seat  (C   the  knee,  E 


241 

the  most  honourable,  A  the  head)  at  a  most  agreeable, 
nearly  recumbent  angle,  in  which  one  gets  excellent  rest. 
D  and  B  are  the  legs.  From  A  to  E,  and  from  E  to  C, 
the  space  between  the  two  supports  is  filled  with  rushes  — 
or  even  with  plaited  straw  ;  if  you  liked,  you  could  also 
fill  it  up  with  your  embroidery.  A  band  can  also  stretch 
from  ii  to  5,  to  rest  the  arms  on. 

2.  The  chair  when  it  is  shut.  As  the  part  from  A 
to  B  is  rather  longer  than  the  other,  one  could  shorten 
it  above  by  means  of  a  hinge,  where  it  would  likewise 
shut  to. 

God  the  Omniscient  may  know  if  I  have  expressed 
myself  plainly  ;  but  you  are  so  immensely  clever  that  I 
believe  you  will  at  least  have  understood  me.— 

On  my  birthday  I  spread  out  on  my  bed  all  the  things 
I've  procured  here,  and  couldn't  resist  the  temptation  to  put 
them  all  on  and  display  myself  to  an  astonished  world  ; 
you'll  be  delighted  with  the  suit.  I  and  Klind worth 
spent  the  evening  at  Prager's,  who  devoted  half  a  bottle 
of  champagne  to  your  health.  Otherwise  the  day  passed 
pretty  drearily.  But  there,  such  birthdays  shan't  occur 
again  ;  one  learns  wisdom  in  the  end,  does  one  not  ? 

I  have  had  many  another  look  at  your  photograph,  and 
at  last  made  out  from  it  the  portrait,  so  that  to  my  delight 
I  saw  you  quite  lifelike  before  me  ;  the  notion  was  there- 
fore quite  capital,  and  I  thank  you  for  it  much.  Peps 
looks  hugely  like  a  sausage  ;  everyone  has  had  to  laugh  to 
whom  I've  shewn  him.  Now  Heaven  grant  I  may  soon 
receive  news  of  your  total  recovery  ;  even  your  letter  of 
to-day  has  quite  picked  me  up,  as  you  doubtless  will  see 
from  these  lines.  Continue  that  way,  and  it  will  end  in 
a  reunion  of  the  first  water,  will  it  not  ?  Fare  quite 
enormously  well,  so  well  that  you  won't  be  able  to 
VOL.  i  16 


242  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

contain  yourself  ;  greet  R.,  and  thank  him  on  my  behalf 
as  well  for  his  care  of  you.  Adieu,  many,  many  hearty 
kisses  from 

Thy 

HUSBAND. 

94. 

LONDON,  29.  May  1855. 

GOOD  MORNING,  DEAR  MlNNA  ! 

In  good  London  fashion  I  have  risen  at  10,  after 
somewhat  restoring  myself  from  the  racket  of  yesterday's 
concert.  So  tliat  too  is  over,  and  4  weeks  from  to-day 
I  depart,  to  convince  myself  at  Zurich  whether  you've 
recovered  entirely.  Your  unexpectedly  swift  convales- 
cence, or  at  least  your  leaving  bed  again,  has  been  the 
solitary  good  experience,  and  the  fondest,  I  have  had  of 
late  ;  it  has  relieved  me  greatly,  and  put  me  in  as  good 
humour  as  possible.  So  I  give  you  the  testimonial  that 
you  have  behaved  very  well  this  time,  and  you  shall  be 
rewarded  for  it  to  the  best  of  my  ability  at  our  re- 
union, especially  if  I  see  that  you've  procured  yourself 
the  needful  blood  again.  Let  me  take  this  opportunity 
of  assuring  you  that  I  can't  abide  blood-letting  ;  I  am 
convinced  you  haven't  too  much  blood,  and  also  am  of 
opinion  that  in  inflammatory  cases  the  application  of 
water — by  cold  compresses — is  more  beneficial.  Now 
do  your  very  best,  as  said,  to  get  your  blood  back  ; 
provide  yourself  with  a  good  appetite  and  good  spirits  : 
I  hope  the  riddance  of  the  money  trouble  will  be  a  help 
toward  that.  You  are  perfectly  right  :  harassments  of 
that  sort  are  most  depressing,  and  injuriously  affect  the 
health  ;  which  also  was  the  reason  I  was  so  worried  and 
put  out  myself,  when — in  spite  of  my  provisions  against 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  243 

it — I  learnt  of  your  strait.  Now  I  have  begged  Sulzer— 
after  deducting  his  last  disbursements — to  place  at  your 
immediate  disposal  the  1500  fr.  for  the  current  half-year, 
together  with  the  500/7-.  for  last  Easter,  so  that  you  will 
receive  your  full  house-keeping  money  down  to  October 
i,  and  in  addition  150 /r.  of  the  500  fr.  extra,  of  which 
you  have  already  had  350  fr.  for  the  rent. — So  be  of  good 
cheer  ;  then  blood  and  courage  no  doubt  will  return  to 
you  also.— 

Yesterday's  concert  went  off  as  usual  ;  the  principal 
piece  was  the  violin  concerto  by  Beethoven,  which 
Saiiiton  played  wonderfully  and  I  got  very  delicately 
accompanied  for  him.  For  the  rest,  as  regards  the 
applause  I  have  grown  accustomed  to  expecting  the 
opposite  of  what  really  ought  to  be  expected.  Anything 
majestic  and  powerful  is  always  received  pretty  coldly  ; 
anything  natty  and  trite,  on  the  other  hand,  always  gives 
these  people  great  delight  :  it  seems  to  be  fashionable 
never  to  excite  oneself,  and  for  God's  sake  never  let 
oneself  be  carried  off  one's  feet — it  would  be  against 
good  tone.  Certainly  it  is  the  most  unimpressionable 
audience  in  the  world,  and  nobody  has  any  other  aim 
with  it,  than — to  pocket  its  money  ;  as  to  which  Albert 
Wagner  was  perfectly  right.  They  practise  the  pro- 
prieties each  time,  however,  toward  myself,  i.e.  I'm 
always  fairly  well  received  ;  that  goes  without  saying.— 
Moreover,  the  Queen  will  attend  the  next  concert  ;  which 
will  cost  me  a  white  cravat.  Prince  Albert  will  draw  up 
the  programme  himself  ;  I  have  been  told  that  at  least 
Jour  pieces  by  Mendelssohn  would  be  played  inconsequence. 
Doubtless  I  shall  survive  it. — 

Last  Sunday  I  had  the  good  fortune   to   dine  with  the 
family  Benecke  in  the  company  of  a  number  of  music-Jews. 


244  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

That  entertainment  cost  me  8  schilling  ;  as  all  the  Sunday 
omnibuses  were  full,  I  had  to  take  a  cab  there  and  back 
(8  English  miles  each  way).  Of  such  are  my  joys  !— 

Indeed  I  shouldn't  know  what  else  to  write  you  on  my 
humdrum  life  here  ;  I  am  always  in  perplexity  what  to 
find  to  tell  you.  In  return  for  the  wretched  looofr.  I'm 
saving  by  it,  this  expedition  has  thrown  me  far,  far  back  : 
I  inwardly  feel  so  disgraced  and  maltreated,  that  I've  long 
since  almost  lost  my  artistic  belief ;  it  will  be  a  hard  job 
to  recover  it  :  with  my  work — as  I've  already  written  you 
—I  am  far  in  arrear.  The  worst  of  it  is,  I  have  only 
myself  to  reproach  for  it  justly  ;  for  I  alone  know  this 
public  world  of  music  as  no  one  else  can  know  it,  and 
/  alone  know  my  position  toward  it  :  consequently,  even 
when  everybody  else  was  speaking  up  for  it,  I  ought  to 
have  declined  this  invitation  most  emphatically.  How 
free  and  strong  should  I  then  have  stood,  whereas  I  now 
give  every  vagabond  the  right  to  say  I  never  was  in 
earnest  with  my  former  views,  but  simply  playing  the 
fox  with  the  grapes. — That  will  do  :  what's  done,  cannot 
be  undone.— 

You  misunderstood  me,  if  you  thought  the  Riga 
tailor's  son  had  touched  me  by  \nsfriendliness;  on  the 
contrary,  it  tormented  me  to  find  that  the  fellow  had 
such  perfect  faith  in  his  claim.  His  father  died  a  long 
time  back,  and  among  his  papers  they  found  an  acceptance 
of  mine,  which  the  young  man  treasured  up  as  an  heir- 
loom, and,  lighting  upon  me  in  London,  now  hoped  to 
cash.  I  turned  him  away,  however,  as  I  really  cannot 
remember  this  debt,  though  I  have  a  very  good  memory 
for  everything  else.  It  was  disagreeable  to  me  in  any 
case.  — 

I  must  beg  you  for  the   contents   of  Pusinelli's  letter, 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  245 

as  I  heard  from  Fischer  that  Meser  was  on  the  eve  of 
going  bankrupt,  whereon  I  begged  him  to  urge  my 
business-creditors  to  make  my  property  secure.  As  for 
that,  people  all  behave  like  muffs,  and  from  nowhere— 
so  it  seems — can  I  ever  learn  anything  pleasant.  Did 
Pusinelli  write  reassuringly,  then  ?  I  should  have  been 
glad  to  learn  that,  you  silly  Muzius  ! — I  don't  like  hearing 
that  you  have  such  confidences  with  Sulzer  that  he  has 
told  you  something  with  regard  to  money  which  you  are 
not  to  repeat  to  me  ;  in  that  case  he  would  have  done 
better  also  not  to  make  such  an  absurd  remark  to  you  as 
this  distasteful  question  whether  I  hadn't  been  receiving 
money  from  the  theatres  and  sending  part  to  you.  You 
did  very  right  to  tell  me  that,  and  my  giving  Sulzer  an 
explanation  on  the  point  was  quite  in  order. — In  your 
state  of  health  I  should  scarcely  have  expected  you  to  be 
champagning  on  my  birthday,  and  when  you  told  me  of 
it  I  was  almost  horrified  ;  as  it  did  you  good,  however,  I 
naturally  was  very  glad,  above  all  since  I  saw  that  your 
illness  had  passed  off  more  smoothly  this  time.  Knacker- 
chen's  feather  gave  me  great  delight  ;  it  was  quite  an 
excellent  idea  of  yours  and  his. 

Tell  me,  you  seem  to  have  been  wanting  to  come  as 
far  as  Paris  to  meet  me  ?  That  surprised  me  !  Dearest 
Minna,  I  am  looking  forward  to  home  and  to  Switzerland, 
and  to  rejoin  you  there  will  be  the  most  agreeable  to 
myself  ;  unfortunately  also,  I  have  been  unable  to  earn 
enough  here  to  afford  a  stay  in  Paris  with  any  pleasure  ; 
whilst  I  dislike  the  idea  of  gadding  about  in  Paris  again — 
even  with  you — just  after  leaving  London.  I  should 
much  prefer  going  direct  from  here  to  the  Seelisberg  ; 
yet  I  gladly  consent  to  a  week  of  home  comforts  at  Zurich 
beforehand.  But  let  me  get  over  the  journey,  and  set 


246  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

foot  in  our  home,  as  quickly  as  possible  ;  and  what  I 
should  like  best,  would  be  for  you  first  to  receive  me  in 
Zurich  itself,  where  I  hope  to  find  rest.  To  me  it  has 
a  truly  moral  meaning,  and  for  God's  sake  do  not  seek 
behind  my  wish  some  slight  upon  yourself,  but  directly 
the  opposite.  I  want  to  be  reminded  as  little  as  possible 
of  this  whole  expedition,  and  can  hope  to  grow  mirthful 
only  when  at  home  and  with  yourself,  our  animals,  etc., 
I  forget  this  entire  metropolitan  joust. 

But  there,  I've  time  enough  to  tell  you  all  particulars 
of  my  arrival.  In  any  case  I  shall  travel  back  as  fast 
as  possible,  and  my  only  question  is  where  to  sleep  a 
night  en  route,  so  as  not  to  reach  you  too  exhausted. 

vSo  farewell,  dear  good  Minna.  Be  sure  your  letters 
are  always  very  welcome  to  me,  and  contribute  whatever 
is  possible  to  bring  me  a  good  day  !  So  keep  your  spirits 
up  ;  our  parting  will  soon  be  over  now  ;  let  us  celebrate 
a  right  joyful  reunion  !  A  thousand  salutes  and  kisses 
from 

Thy 

R. 

95. 

LONDON,  i  .June  1855. 

DEAR  GOOD  WIFE, 

To-day,  this  ist  of  June,  I've  had  a  roaring  fire 
lit  again  ;  which  will  shew  you  the  delicious  climate  I 
am  living  in.  Everything  combines  to  make  my  sojourn 
here  as  charming  as  possible  !  However,  I  already  am 
thinking  almost  less  of  that  sojourn,  than  of  the  de- 
parture ;  for  I  shall  be  at  Zurich  4  weeks  from  tomorrow  ! 
The  day  before  yesterday  I  commenced  my  purchases, 
Mad.  Prager  helping  me  ;  for  which  I  had  to  remember 
her  as  well  with  lace,  of  course,  and  presented  her  with 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  247 

a  collar  and  cuffs — in  revenge  for  much  that  I  have 
enjoyed  in  her  house.  Concerning  this  lace,  however, 
a  doubt  has  now  cropped  up  in  me  ;  for  Mad.  Prager 
declared  that  only  collars  and  cuffs  of  it  are  generally 
worn,  as  people  always  have  high  bodies  to  their  dresses. 
As  to  the  Wesendonck,  it  immediately  occurred  to  me 
that  she  always  wears  high  bodices,  and  therefore  needs 
no  embroidered  chemisette  (chest)  ;  but  how  about  your- 
self? Of  the  richest  lace  I've  only  bought  collar  and 
cuffs  for  you,  as  also  for  the  Wesendonck  ;  in  the  less 
expensive  lace,  however — such  as  Mad.  Wolfensperger 
wears — I  have  added  a  chemisette.  So,  if  you  think  a 
stomacher  of  the  richer  lace  should  also  be  purchased — 
both  for  yourself  and  the  W. — please  send  exact  instruc- 
tions, that  I  may  buy  it  yet.  Of  course  the  thing  is 
not  precisely  cheap — for  there's  a  difference  in  the 
quality  ;  but  if  it  is  needful,  don't  hesitate  to  speak 
straight  out,  and  the  cost  must  be  saved  off  something 
else. — I  have  also  got  you  stockings:  ITT  pound  the 
dozen,— 

At  the  French  Customs  they're  very  strict,  and  I 
have  been  generally  advised  to  declare  the  things, 
especial!}-  the  lace,  and  pay  duty,  which  comes  to  25 
per  cent,  though. — -But  there's  no  hurry  about  that.— 

As  to  news  from  here,  unfortunately  I  know  of 
absolutely  none  to  give  you,  however  much  I  rack  my 
brains  ;  so  that  I  really  am  only  writing  to  give  you  a 
sign  of  life  and  thank  you  most  sincerely  for  your  letters, 
which  have  truly  rejoiced  me  by  relieving  my  mind  in 
respect  of  your  health.  As  for  ))iy  own,  I  couldn't  remain 
here  much  longer  without  becoming  downright  ill  :  my 
lower  regions  are  badly  out  of  order  ;  the  food  here  is 
doing  me  great  harm,  particularly  the  lack  of  soft 


248  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

vegetables  and  plenty  of  them  ;  the  only  way  I  can 
remedy  it,  is  to  eat  as  little  as  possible.  However,  I 
don't  intend  to  fall  into  laments  again  ;  you  have  heard 
them  often  enough.  If  I  only  had  anything  pleasant 
to  tell  you  instead  ;  but  I  know  of  nothing  good,  except 
that  it's  drawing  to  an  end  here.  — 

What  we  shall  set  before  the  sovereign  Court  at  our 
next  concert,  I  haven't  heard  yet  ;  moreover  it  is  in- 
famously indifferent  to  me. — At  last  I  have  the  score  of 
' '  Rheingold  ' '  in  in)'  hands  again  ;  the  Dresden  copyist 
hadn't  even  yet  got  through  the  half  of  it,  so  I  lost 
patience  and  begged  Fischer  to  send  the  whole  bundle  to 
me  here,  as  I  meant  to  get  the  copy  finished  at  Zurich. 
(It  cost  a  tidy  sum  per  post.) — Tell  me  (before  I  forget 
it),  has  Schmidt  of  Frankfort  had  the  present  I  intended 
for  him  ?  ?— 

A  lady  here  is  plaguing  me  for  my  portrait  for  Berlin, 
where  the  last  doesn't  satisfy  and  they  want  a  better  one 
of  me.  For  that  purpose  she  wishes  me  to  get  photo- 
graphed again,  which  I  won't  ;  nothing  decent  will  come 
of  it  in  all  my  life,  and  I  haven't  the  least  desire  for 
any  of  that  sort  of  nonsense  now. — The  day  before 
yesterday  I  and  Prager  were  at  a  theatre  no  farther  off 
from  our  abodes  than  7  Engl.  miles  ;  it  is  called  the 
City-of-Loudon  theatre.  The  dearest  seat  was  i  schilling  ; 
Publicus  was  in  its  shirt-sleeves  etc.,  and  kicked  up  such 
a  row  that  it  took  me  a  long  time  to  get  as  accustomed 
to  it  as  the  actors  had,  who  played  on  quite  calmly  albeit 
not  a  word  of  theirs  was  understood.  They  played 
Schiller's  Robbers,  and  after  it  a  French  piece,  the 
Corsica  n  Bro  fliers.  In  the  Robbers  it  startled  me  to 
see  Frau  v.  Marschall  as  Amalie  ;  please  tell  her  I  should 
never  have  believed  she  was  playing  comedy  incognito 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  249 

in  London.  At  one  point  in  the  last  piece  there  appeared 
the  ghost  of  the  slain  brother,  which  was  represented  so 
vividly  that  I've  been  quite  afraid  of  it  at  home  of  nights. 
There  also  was  a  duel  in.  it,  carried  out  so  intensely  naturally 
and  excitingly  that  I  rarely  remember  my  interest  being 
so  held  at  the  theatre.  Prager  has  assured  me,  moreover, 
that  the  most  celebrated  English  actors  do  not  play  a 
hair's  breadth  otherwise  or  better  than  those  at  this  out- 
of-the-way  theatre — which  I  simply  wished  to  see  for 
the  sake  of  enlarging  my  experience.— 

There,  I  have  pumped  up  all  my  news  now,  and 
it's  your  turn  to  tell  me  Zurich  novelties,  which  will 
amount  to  pretty  much  the  same.  That  doubtless  arises, 
dear  child,  from  our  having  led  so  moving  and  eventful 
a  life  that  we  no  longer  take  an  interest  in  what  strikes 
others  as  still  of  account.  Neither  do  we  need  anything 
of  the  kind,  and  the  beautiful  Seelisberg  shall  narrate 
us  more  news  than  this  whole  big  political  and  artistic 
Jew-world,  to  which  /  at  least  am  dead  for  good.  God 
rest  its  soul  !— 

Klindworth,  who  is  better  again,  has  just  turned  up  ; 
we  are  dining  together  at  Sainton  and  Liiders'  to-day. 
If  it  were  not  for  these  good  amiable  fellows,  and  the 
Pragers,  decidedly  I  should  have  been  unable  to  hold 
out  here.  Within  their  limited  means  they  give  them- 
selves all  conceivable  pains  to  make  my  life  agreeable. 
What  nonsense,  that  they  should  need  to  ! 

As  for  that,  I  did  not  invite  them  after  the  last 
concert  ;  to  speak  candidly — out  of  economy  (you  will 
laugh  at  that,  but  it's  the  truth).  The  disappointment 
was  general,  however,  and  I  shall  invite  them  again 
after  the  next  Royal  concert  in  the  white  cravat.— 

Now  fare  immensely  well,  good  Muzius  !      Keep  brave 


250  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

and   of   good  humour.      Hearty   thanks   for    your    letters 
once   more.      To  a  speedy,   glad,   glad  Wiedersehen  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

96. 

LONDON,  5.  June  1855. 

DEAR  MIENEL, 

It  is  too  bad  that  I  should  really  have  nothing 
to  write  you  from  here  ;  I  do  not  even  know  the 
programme  for  our  next  concert  yet,  and  probably  shan't 
till  this  evening  at  Sainton's.  Consequently  I  am  only 
writing  lest  you  should  come  by  evil  thoughts  if  a 
letter  were  skipped,  though  they  never  do  occur  to 
you  (do  they  ?).  — Nevertheless  I  have  a  little  trip  to  tell 
you  of,  which  I  took  this  last  Sunday  to  Brighton 
(pronounce,  Breiten),  where  Prager  is  spending  a  few 
days  with  his  family,  and  whither  he  had  invited  me. 
Unfortunately  it  was  so  windy  that  I  caught  a  fresh 
cold  on  our  sea  jaunt—  the  chief  amusement  there  ; 
then  I  tried  to  rid  myself  of  the  results  by  sweating, 
which  always  makes  one  still  more  liable.  But  the 
winter  will  never  end  here,  and — with  the  exception  of 
a  few  days — I  have  been  wearing  winter  clothes  for 
nine  full  months  now — God  be  praised  ! — my  wadded 
overcoat,  for  instance,  is  on  my  body  almost  all  the 
time.  The  only  thing  wanting,  is  for  this  bad  weather 
to  break  loose  at  home  when  I  get  back.  That  prospect 
exists,  to  judge  by  your  accounts  of  the  constant  fair 
weather  at  present  ;  what  bliss  ! — If  one  could  only 
throw  off  the  habit  of  life,  since  it  really  is  made  such 
an  affliction  !— 

That  you   are   passably  well   again,    and   seem  to  be 
in    good    spirits,    gives    me   just    as    much    joy    as    your 


251 

illness  and  bad  temper  (in  consequence  of  that  silly 
money  fix)  made  me  uneasy  a  little  while  back.  So 
I'm  in  a  somewhat  better  frame  of  mind  myself.  As 
for  Sulzer,  whom  yon  appear  to  be  treating  extraordinarily 
harshly,  he  told  me  he  had  placed  the  whole  250  fr. 
for  April  at  your  disposal  ;  if  he  really  only  gave  you 
150,  no  doubt  it  was  because  he  remembered  my  having 
left  you  an  advance  of  100  fr.  before  I  started.  How- 
ever, that  will  soon  explain  itself  when  I  get  back, 
which  won't  be  much  longer  to  wait  for.  Three  weeks 
from  to-day  I  depart  (in  the  evening)  ;  already  I  feel 
that  I  ought  to  be  packing,  so  absolutely  am  I  in 
London  no  longer  in  spirit.  To-day,  too,  I've  come  to 
a  stop  with  my  work  ;  I  have  only  reached  the  end  of 
Wodan's  great  scene  in  the  2nd  act  of  the  Walktire— 
horrible  to  relate  ! — so  that  I  have  instrumented  some- 
thing over  100  pages  in  all  here  !  !  I  haven't  the 
smallest  relish  to  begin  a  new  scene  here,  and  shall 
merely  pass  the  remaining  time  away  with  the  fair  copy 
and  preparations  for  it.— 

By  all  means  you  might  write  to  Truttmann  [Seelisberg 
hotel]  :  I  want  a  small  room  in  the  old  house  for  my 
study,  and  on  the  Chapel  side,  that  I  may  have  no 
morning  sun  ;  I  also  should  think  it  as  well  if  you 
engaged  for  our  parlour  and  bed-chamber  those  rooms 
in  the  new  house,  on  the  other  side  of  it,  which  Frau 
Landamtmannin  Reding  occupied  last  year,  as  they  are 
the  least  exposed  to  the  sun — which,  as  you  know,  is 
a  great  consideration.— 

It  would  be  dreadful  if  Peps  couldn't  go  out  with 
us  any  more.  He  had  that  lameness  in  his  fore-paw 
once  before,  and  yet  it  left  him  ;  so  I  still  have  hope 
this  time  :  only  do  not  let  him  eat  too  much.  God, 


252  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

the  thought  that  one  soon  must  lose  the  good  old  chap 
entirely,  makes  me  quite  doleful  ! — Give  him  my  kindest 
regards.  — 

As  spinster  Breck  is  making  such  lovely  things  for 
me,  I  suppose  you  must  give  her  my  regards  as  well  ; 
only  don't  make  them  quite  too  cordial  !  Apropos  of 
my  domestic  luxury,  I've  been  led  by  chance  to  an 
increase  thereof  which  mustn't  make  you  cross  with 
me.  Prager's  wife  saw  one  of  my  Paris  silk  shirts, 
and  declared  one  could  get  them  still  better  and  cheaper 
here,  as  these  materials  are  more  largely  made  here  than 
in  France.  In  brief — she  has  shewn  me  samples,  and 
I  have  bought  material  for  three  shirts  ;  which  must  be 
made  up  here,  however,  as  I  should  have  to  pay  duty 
otherwise  upon  the  stuff.  But  set  your  mind  at  rest  : 
you  too  shall  have  an  extra  something  nice,  especially 
if  you  behave  yourself,  and  I  shall  still  bring  back  that 
1,000  fr.  intact. 

I've  also  had  annoying  business  matters  to  attend 
to  ;  Meser,  in  particular,  has  cost  me  a  bad  day.  What 
a  champion  piggery  that  is  ;  it  is  enough  to  make  one's 
heart  bleed,  to  see  how  such  a  fine  and  hard-won 
property  is  managed! — Lucky  I'm  not  there,  God  knows! 
If  only  the  world  would  accord  me  at  least  one  thing  : 
my  keeping  good  humour  for  work  ;  for  indeed  that's 
the  sole  thing  I  want  in  the  end.— 

I  know  absolutely  nothing  further  of  Berlin  ;  but 
there  is  ample  time  for  that  !  The  whole  thing  is 
terribly  indifferent  to  me  at  bottom.— 

Now  wheedle  Sulzer  into  suppl ying  good  weather 
for  my  return  ;  a  Director  of  Finance  on  the  English 
model  can  do  anything  !  As  for  yourself — be  nice  and 
calm,  look  after  your  health,  lie  down  and  take  things 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  253 

easy,  don't  slave  about  anything  :  that  I  may  find  you 
in  thorough  good  condition.  Then  we'll  do  nothing 
but  fool  around  the  whole  first  week.  Adieu  !  A 
thousand  heartfelt  greetings  and  kisses  from 

Thy 
R.  W. 

97. 

LONDON,  S.June  1855. 

MOST    EXCELLENT    MUZIUS, 

I  cannot  write  you  anything  definite  about  the 
next  concert,  even  to-day.  Tuesday  evening  Sainton  told 
me  the  programme  had  already  appeared  in  the  news- 
paper, and  my  Tannhauser  march  was  upon  it.  Therefore 
Prince  Albert  must  have  demanded  some  of  my  music, 
and,  without  a  word  to  me  about  it,  these  stupid  devils 
of  directors  blindly  set  down  this  march  since  it  chanced 
to  be  still  in  reserve.  For  we  had  run  through  it  at  an 
extra  rehearsal  before  the  5th  concert,  that  it  perhaps 
might  be  given  in  course  of  the  concerts  as  a  closing 
number.  After  the  6th  concert,  however,  wThen  I  attended 
a  committee  to  arrange  the  programmes  for  the  remainder, 
they  shewed  me  a  written  sketch  of  the  last  two  concerts 
(before  they  knew  whether  the  Queen  would  attend  one 
of  them),  and  behold  you,  they  hadn't  included  this  march 
in  it.  At  any  rate,  then,  the  undecided  success  of  the 
Tannhauser  overture  had  made  it  advisable  to  these  gentle- 
men to  give  nothing  more  of  mine  ;  whereas  /  in  the 
meantime  had  made  up  my  mind,  should  they  still  wrant 
the  march,  that  I  won /<•/;/'/  consent  to  it,  since  I  have  lost 
all  desire  to  produce  myself  here.  For  all  that,  these 
gentlemen  behaved  very  shabbily  in  vouchsafing  me  no 
word  about  it,  but  slinking  away  like  cats  from  hot  broth  ; 
so  I  have  just  taken  my  revenge.  Immediately  I  heard 


254  RICHARD    TO   MINNA    WAGNER 

of  the  programme  arranged  with  Prince  Albert,  I  wrote 
the  latter :  It  much  rejoiced  me  to  perceive  that  the 
Court  wished  to  make  acquaintance  with  some  of  my 
music,  but  I  regretted  that  the  directors  of  the  society, 
without  consulting  me,  had  fixed  upon  a  march  that 
was  merely  a  piece  of  scenic  decoration,  and  to  myself 
did  not  seem  qualified  to  give  a  sufficient  idea  of  my 
music  ;  consequently,  if  the  Court  insisted  on  its  wish, 
I  besought  the  Prince  to  command  an  execution  of  the 
Tannhauser  overture,  which  had  certainly  been  given 
once  before,  but  in  any  case  could  only  gain  through 
better  understanding  by  the  audience  on  a  second  hear- 
ing.—  Sainton  himself  delivered  this  letter  next  day  at 
the  Palace,  where  he  had  to  give  a  lesson.  At  the  same 
time  I  wrote  to  the  directors,  telling  them  that  this 
march,  which  they  had  considered  unworthy  to  set  on 
the  programme  of  their  ordinary  concerts,  was  bound  to 
strike  myself  as  still  less  worthy  of  an  extraordinary 
concert,  if  it  were  a  question  of  giving  the  Royal  Court, 
in  compliance  with  its  desire,  an  adequate  idea  of  my 
music  ;  consequent!}'  I  had  written  to  Prince  Albert,  and 
begged  him  to  demand  the  Tannhauser  overture. — Well, 
it  appears  that  the  Prince  has  at  any  rate  fulfilled  my 
wish  and  asked  the  directors  for  the  overture,  as  I'm 
bidden  to  an  extraordinary  committee  for  5  this  afternoon  ; 
whereas  if  the  Prince  had  not  entertained  it,  he  would 
certainly  have  told  me  so  direct  through  Ids  secretary, 
for  which  purpose  I  had  written  him  my  address.  It 
would  be  droll,  accordingly,  if  in  this  way  I  arrived  at 
a  minor  amende  after  all  ;  although  I  could  have  done 
quite  well  without  it,  as  this  whole  L/ondon  expedition 
simply  strikes  me  as  a  sin  committed  by  me,  for  which 
I  heartily  admit  the  justice  of  stern  punishment. — For  the 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  255 

rest,  we  have  a  thorough  good  programme,  and  one  that 
— if  it  weren't  for  too  much  music — may  give  me  pleasure  : 
the  lovely  symphony  of  Mozart  which  I  conducted  once 
at  Zurich  ;  then  the  8th  symphony  of  Beethoven,  the 
second  movement  whereof  we  once  had  to  repeat  at 
Zurich  (by  request  !).  So  we  shall  see  :  I'll  write  you  after 
the  concert  ;  meanwhile  you  may  assume  with  tolerable 
certainty  that  the  Tannhauser  overture  will  be  given.— 

Thank  you  for  your  4~leafed  clover,  though  it  will 
have  caused  you  no  very  great  effort,  as  you  hardly  find 
any  but  4-leafed  clover  ;  it  shall  be  a  token  to  me,  how- 
ever, that  you  are  well  and  in  good  humour.  I  am 
equally  glad  that  you're  satisfied  with  my  economy  and 
my  purchases  :  I'm  not  quite  at  the  end  of  the  latter 
yet,  and  you  shall  get  something  pretty  besides  ;  neither 
did  you  need  to  give  me  any  orders  for  lace  insertion  ; 
instead  of  ij  ell  I  had  already  purchased  several,  which 
I  hope  will  suit  you.  The  stockings  I've  bought  you 
will  certainly  be  considerably  finer  than  the  previous 
ones  ;  they  are  of  the  best  quality. 

The  other  evening  I  went  with  Prager  and  Liiders  to 
the  Surrey  Gardens,  where  there  are  wild  beasts  in  variety 
(among  them  many  lions),  and  Sebastopol  is  so  surprisingly 
represented  in  the  open,  that  I  really  didn't  know  at  first 
where  I  had  got  to.  When  it  grew  dark,  the  bombard- 
ment was  copied  in  fireworks,  ending  with  the  final 
capture  of  Sebastopol  while  the  band  very  touchingly 
played  "  God  save  the  Queen."  The  irony  of  the  thing 
became  complete  for  me  when  I  learnt  that  the  same 
soldiers  were  employed  for  this  sham  fight  who  had  been 
in  the  Crimea  and,  after  fighting  in  reality,  returned  here 
wounded,  to  go  through  the  thing  again  with  pasteboard, 
canvas  and  rockets,  but  victoriously  this  time.  The 


256  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

public  naturally  feels    very  gratified  :    what   more    would 
one  have  ? — 

Otherwise  I  have  nothing  to  communicate  from  here, 
except  that  I'm  counting  the  days  to  my  longed-for 
departure  already.  Liszt  has  written  me  very  amiably  : 
at  Dtisseldorf,  where  he  also  was  invited  to  the  Music- 
festival,  he  likewise  heard  on  all  sides  that  I  had  left 
London,  at  which  all  the  world  felt  hearty  joy  (namely, 
at  my  having  been  kicked  out)  ;  a  joy  Liszt  spoilt  for 
them  by  the  assurance  that  it  wasn't  true.  Ah,  this 
adorable  crew  of  musicianers ;  how  odious  I  seem  in  my 
own  eyes  for  its  having  assumed  the  appearance  again 
as  if  I  were  one  of  themselves  ! — God  preserve  me  in 
future  even  from  that  appearance  ! — Farewell,  best  of  all 
Minnas  ;  continue  so  sensible  and  bright,  and  you  shall  be 
rewarded  by  having  in  me  the  very  dearest  of  husbands, 
who  now  presents  himself  with  olden  love  as 

Thy  superlatively  faithful  partner  and  spouse, 

R.   W. 

98. 

LONDON,  Saturday,  after  the  rehearsal. 

DEAREST    MINNA, 

I    must    send    you   just   a  word,    to   tell    you   the 
Tannhauser  overture  will  really  be  repeated. 

I  haven't  a  postage-stamp  left  in  the  house,  so  you'll 
have  to  bleed  55  cent,  for  this  bulletin,  which  will  aw  use 
you,  however. 

Adieu,  I'm  very  tired,  and  have  just  ordered  a  small 
bottle  of  stout  (porter). 

God  save  the  Queen  ! 

Your 

very  truly 

RICH.   WAG. 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  257 

99. 

LONDON,  12.  June  1855. 

Good  Lord,  dear  Mienel,  I  am  quite  hoarse  from  so 
much  talking  with — the — Queen  !  First  she  asked  me  how 
was  Peps  ?  Then,  if  Knackerchen  was  well-behaved  ? 
Then,  if  I  was  taking  anything  back  for  my  wife  ? — 
Finally  she  asked  after  Sulzer,  and  whether  Baumgartner 
had  really  failed  the  other  day  ?  And  so  on,  without  end. 
You  may  imagine  what  a  deal  I  had  to  answer  ;  in  short, 
I  can't  squeeze  out  another  word  to-day. 

No,  don't  you  believe  that's  my  fun  ;  it's  all  in 
earnest,  and  the  Queen  of  England  had  a  very  long 
conversation  with  me.  Further,  I  can  assure  you  that 
she  isn't  fat,  but  very  short  and  not  at  all  pretty,  alas 
with  a  slightly  red  nose  ;  still,  she  has  something  un- 
commonly kind  and  familiar  about  her,  and  even  if  she 
isn't  precisely  imposing,  she  is  pleasing  and  amiable. 
She  doesn't  care  for  instrumental  music,  and  when  she 
attends  a  long  concert  like  this — which  is  by  no  means 
the  case  every  year — she  does  it  simply  for  her  husband's 
sake,  who  goes  in  more  for  music  and  is  fond  of  German 
instrumental  music.  This  time,  however,  she  really 
appears  to  have  received  an  impression.  Sainton,  who 
kept  her  in  eye  the  whole  time  from  his  desk,  declared 
she  followed  my  conducting  and  the  pieces  with  unwonted 
and  increasing  interest,  whilst  she  and  Prince  Albert 
quite  warmed  at  the  Tannhauser  in  particular.  So  much 
is  certain  :  when  I  faced  about  at  the  close  of  that 
overture,  both  of  them  applauded  me  most  heartily,  and 
looked  towards  me  with  a  friendly  smile  ;  of  course  the 
audience  did  not  leave  them  in  the  lurch,  but  honoured 
me  this  time  with  very  decided,  universal  and  prolonged 
applause.  That  was  at  the  end  of  the  concert's  first  part, 
VOL.  I  17 


258  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

and  the  Court  thereon  withdrew  to  a  refreshment  room, 
whither  I  was  summoned  forthwith  and  handed  first  to 
the  L/ord  Chamberlain  for  presentation.  That  lord  I 
treated  much  en  bagatelle  ;  on  the  contrary,  I  must  confess 
I  felt  touched  to  the  heart  by  this  kind  and  gracious 
Queen  when  she  assured  me  quite  cordially  that  she  was 
delighted  to  make  my  acquaintance,  for  I  involuntarily 
recalled  my  outward  situation  toward  her,  which  really 
could  not  be  more  difficult  and  embarrassing.  Pursued 
by  the  police  in  Germany  like  a  highway  robber,  with 
passport  difficulties  made  for  me  in  France,  I  am  received 
by  the  Queen  of  England,  before  the  most  aristocratic 
Court  in  the  world,  with  the  friendliest  sans  gene  :  it 
really  is  very  nice  !  Neither  did  I  hesitate  to  give  her 
to  understand  this  quite  frankly  ;  whereon  ensued  a 
lengthy  conversation  about  my  operas,  in  which  Prince 
Albert — a  very  handsome  man  !— joined  with  most 
gratifying  interest.  To  the  Queen's  opinion  that  my 
things  might  perhaps  be  translated  into  Italian,  to  be 
given  at  the  Italian  Opera  here,  the  Prince  quite  intelli- 
gently replied  that  probably  my  texts  would  not  be  suited 
for  it,  and  certainly  Italian  singers  would  not  know  how 
to  sing  them.  Upon  that  said  the  Queen  very  naively — 
"  But  most  of  the  singers  at  the  Italian  Opera  now,  you 
see,  are  Germans  ;  consequently  they  would  only  need 
to  sing  in  their  mother-tongue."  We  were  obliged  to 
laugh,  and  I  then  replied  that  unfortunately  the  German 
singers  also  had  much  deteriorated,  and — if  I  wanted  one 
day  to  produce  the  big  work  I  now  was  working  at — I 
should  seriously  have  to  think  of  first  training  my  people. 
No  doubt  they  didn't  altogether  understand  that,  but  they 
expressed  themselves  sympathetically,  adding  that  they 
had  been  quite  enraptured  with  the  overture  ;  whereon 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  259 

I  thanked  once  more  for  its  commanding,  and  assured 
them  both  that  they  had  greatly  rejoiced  me  by  this  proof 
of  their  interest. — And  that  was  the  truth  ;  for,  although 
this  evening  can  bear  no  further  outward  fruit,  it  has 
given  me  a  most  agreeable  satisfaction,  so  that  I  can 
depart  from  London  with  some  sense  of  reconcilement. 
At  the  close  of  the  concert  both  very  kindly  applauded 
me  again  to  my  face  (they  were  sitting  in  front,  quite 
close  to  the  orchestra),  and  thereby  elicited  from  the 
audience  a  longish  outburst  of  applause. — My  handful 
of  friends,  who  assembled  at  my  rooms  thereafter,  were 
swimming  in  bliss.  Prager  had  lent  me  a  white  cravat  ; 
he  means  to  hoard  it  up  in  memory  of  a  German  dema- 
gogue who  struck  up  ' '  God  save  tJic  Queen  "  in  it  before 
the  Queen  of  England.  For  the  ' '  God  save  ' '  had  to  be 
played  when  the  Queen  entered,  and  I  had  to  beat  time 
for  it.  I  should  think  the  German  police  might  let  me 
pass  in  peace  now  !— 

At  bottom  this  event  rejoiced  me  chiefly  for  your  own 
sake,  since  I  knew  that  the  account  of  it  would  affect  you 
most  agreeably.  If  you  are  greedy  of  honour  for  me,  it 
has  been  dealt  me  in  full  measure  this  time.  It  will 
take  the  press  a  long  while  ere  it  swallows  this  revenge 
vouchsafed  me  ;  the  reporters'  wrath  may  pass  all  bounds. 

I  hereby  make  you  a  present  of  the  whole  occurrence  ; 
do  with  it  as  you  please.  If  it  affords  you  satisfaction, 
communicate  some  of  my  account  to  Marschall  or  Spyri, 
that  they  may  narrate  a  portion  of  it  in  their  journal. 
Whether  the  other  newspapers  will  say  much  about  it, 
I  almost  doubt. — 

So  I  still  shall  conduct  my  last  concert  (a  labour  of 
Hell  every  time  to  me,  which  I  shouldn't  care  to  under- 
take again  for  all  the  money  in  the  world)  —and  then 


26o  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

take  leave  as  cheerfully  as  possible.  A  fortnight  from 
to-day,  at  8  in  the  evening,  I  depart  from  Londonbridge  !  ! ! 
May  it  be  for  a  right  joyful  reunion  !  Farewell,  very 
best  Muzius  ;  be  of  good  cheer  !  Greet  all  our  dear 
friends  heartily  from 

Thy 
Knight  of  the  Order  of  the  Garter. 

100. 

LONDON,  15.  June  1855. 

GOOD    MORNING,     DEAR    MlNNA  ! 

This  morning  you'll  be  getting  the  letter  about 
the  last  concert,  which  is  sure  to  entertain  you  highly. 
I'm  still  quite  hoarse  from  so  much  talking  with — -the — 
Queen  ;  which  appears  to  have  made  a  great  impression 
here.  Of  course  the  principal  papers,  to  whom  the  affair 
was  a  thorn  in  the  eye,  mention  nothing  of  the  interview  ; 
but  the  "  Globe  "  has  been  brought  me,  wherein  it  stands 
that  the  Queen  had  had  me  summoned  after  my  over- 
ture, and  spoken  with  me  for  some  time.  Yesterday  I 
sent  this  sheet  to  Sulzer  in  a  wrapper  :  to-day  I  learn 
that  he  has  already  left  for  Winterthur.  Please  find  out 
at  once  from  the  usher  whether  the  sheet  has  been  sent 
after  him  ;  if  not,  beg  it  back,  and  pass  it  on  to  Spyri— 
or  Hagenbuch  ;  perhaps  the  latter  would  be  glad  of  it 
for  the  N.  Zuricher  Z.— 

As  a  fact,  the  kind  and  distinguishing  behaviour  of 
little  Victoria  has  ended  by  putting  me  in  quite  a  good 
humour.  You  know  the  only  thing  I  ever  care  for  when 
I  ply  my  art  :.  a  kindled,  sympathetic  glance  affords  me 
satisfaction,  whilst  other  tokens  of  applause,  which  I  have 
to  share  with  so  much  rubbish,  mostly  leave  me  in  un- 
certainty. And  it  came  straight  from  the  tiny  person's 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  261 

heart  ;  I  marked  that  well.  In  any  case  both  she  and 
her  husband  had  been  informed  of  the  vulgar  campaign  of 
abuse  pursued  against  me  by  the  noble  English  army  of 
reporters  ;  consequently  they  gave  me  a  conscious  satis- 
faction, made  easier  to  them,  which  delights  me  most,  by 
the  impression  they  derived  from  what  I  offered.  Sainton 
has  given  another  lesson  at  the  Palace  to  the  young 
Princess  Hohenlohe,  a  relative  of  the  Queen's  on  the 
mother's  side  :  the  young  lady  was  likewise  quite  en- 
raptured still,  and  told  Sainton  the  Queen  and  Prince 
Albert  had  declared  that  they  only  regretted  being  unable 
to  hear  the  overture  once  more  forthwith — and  so  on.— 

Dear   God  !   if  I   could   really   bring   myself  to   make 
my  footing  firm  here,   so  as  to  play  a  big  role,   perhaps 
very   soon,    and    even    become    a    rich    man,    probably    it 
would    stand   entirely   in  my  power.      Already  I'm   very 
famous   here,    and  all   are  beginning  to    think  me  some- 
thing quite   unusual ;  and  this  has  largely  been  effected 
by    the    fury    of    the    press    against    me.        Among     my 
audience    there    are     many    enthusiasts     who     positively 
take    me    for    the    greatest   genius    of   the    century,    and 
people  never  speak  of  me  otherwise  than  as  of  a  "  great 
man."      So  much  is  certain  :    the  Times  critic  (Dawison), 
in    particular,    has   merely   been    waiting  for   me   to   take 
some   kind  of  step  to  win  him  over,   which   is  also  said 
to  have  been   the  reason  of  his  temporary  silence  about 
me    after    his   first    long    article    in    the    Times  ;    people 
assure  me  it  would    have    cost   me  nothing  further  than 
the    according   him   some    sort   of   notice.      The    greater, 
naturally,    has    been    and     is    his    anger     at    my    doing 
nothing  of  the  kind.      And  that  is  quite   in   order  ;   for, 
once  granted  that    one  doesn't  need   the   Press  here,  the 
whole   fear  thereof,    and    consequently   its    whole  import- 


262  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

ance,  would  be  lost.  They  tell  me  be  is  keeping  the 
door  open  even  yet,  to  change  front  as  soon  as  I  took 
the  smallest  notice  of  him. — But  nobody,  I  hope,  will 
expect  that  of  me  ;  it  would  be  a  poltroonery  I  could 
never  forgive  myself ;  however,  it  also  is  sheer  impossible, 
because  I  simply — cannot  do  it.  Under  any  circumstances, 
moreover,  I  have  nothing  at  all  to  seek  here  ;  and  even 
if  they  praised  me  to  the  skies,  I  should  never  return 
here — just  because  I  have  nothing  to  seek  here,  and  in 
particular,  such  a  concert-conductorship  is  not  my  affair. 
—Consequently  I  am  only  too  glad  that  the  whole  dreary 
time  is  drawing  to  its  close  now,  and  I  shall  be  regiven 
to  myself :  care  and  suffering  are  not  the  worst  evil,  if 
one  only  is  free  in  his  noblest  conscience  ;  but  nothing 
in  the  world  could  delight  me,  if  it  made  me  a  dependent 
on  demands  that  go  against  my  insight  and  my  feeling. 
So — Tuesday  week  I  travel  back.  I  am  pleased,  however, 
to  be  concluding  this  distasteful  sojourn  with  a  little 
reconcilement,  and  I  owe  that  sense  of  consolation  this 
time  to  my  little  Victoria.— 

The  only  difference  of  opinion  is  as  to  how  I 
managed  to  make  such  a  favourable  impression  on  the 
Queen.  Prager  declares,  I  looked  so  handsome  in  his 
white  cravat,  that  she  fell  in  love  with  me  ;  others 
maintain,  it  was  the  beautiful  Zurich  tail-coat.  For 
my  own  part,  I  have  to  reproach  myself  with  having 
deceived  her  throughout  the  whole  concert  ;  she  is  said 
to  have  stiibbornly  fancied,  to  wit,  I  had  entirely  new 
gloves  on,  whereas  they  were  nothing  but  cleaned.  In 
that  you'll  recognise  my  savingness,  no  doubt,  but  alas, 
a  lack  of  candour  too. 

Yesterday  J  had  a  call  from  Berlioz,  who  is  tramping 
for  his  daily  bread,  and  really  is  hard  pushed  ;  he  cannot 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  263 

earn  a  sou  in  France,  so  has  to  eke  out  a  scanty  sub- 
sistence by  concerts  in  England  and  Germany  (which — 
as  I  happen  to  know — bring  him  mighty  little  in). 
Here  he  is  invited  by  the  New  Philharmonic  for  two 
concerts.  He  has  made  his  peace  already  with  the  local 
press,  after  being  likewise  torn  to  tatters  by  it  to  begin 
with.  Besides  his  Romeo  and  Juliet  symphony,  he  also 
conducted  a  symphony  by  Mozart,  which  he  let  them 
murder  so  horribly  that  I  turned  tail.  But  that's  quite 
English  ;  they  like  it  that  way,  and  Berlioz,  who  only 
looks  to  money  now,  knows  how  he  has  to  do  things. 
For  that  matter,  he  lacks  all  depth. 

So  farewell  for  to-day  once  again,  my  very  best 
Muzius.  Congratulate  yourself  that  I  still  associate  with 
you  ;  after  my  Rendez-vous  with  the  Queen,  I've  grown 
so  proud  that  I  speak  to  strictly  no  one  any  more.— 
I'm  very  sorry  about  Sulzer's  illness,  though — if  the 
man  would  but  give  up  his  cursed  legislating  !  He  easily 
might  leave  it  to  his  thick-skulled,  phlegmatic  fellow- 
countrymen  ;  they  never  ruin  their  health  with  it,  but 
it's  different  with  such  a  sensitive  nature  as  his.  He 
seems  to  have  had  a  severe  attack  this  time,  or  he  would 
never  have  given  in.  Will  he  be  remaining  at  Winterthur 
awhile  for  the  present  ? 

Now,  the  very  best  farewell  ;  greet  left  and  right  ; 
tell  people,  too,  they'll  not  be  rid  of  me.  Adieu,  dearest 
Wife  ! 

Thy 

GOOD  HUSBAND. 

Pragers  send  kindest  regards.  The  wife  has  marked 
your  stockings,  and  had  them  washed  ;  otherwise  I  should 
have  had  to  pay  duty  in  France  for  them  ;  it's  terribly 


264  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

strict  there,   and  several  people  have  told  me  they  were 
searched  to  the  skin. 


101. 

LONDON,   19.  Jime  1855. 

O  YOU  WICKED  MINNA  ! 

How  can  you  declare  that  I  never  mention  your 
letters?  Please  look  mine  through,  and  you'll  find  that 
almost  every  time  I  thank  you  for  the  letter  last  received. 
So  it  shall  be  this  time  also,  and  I  will  give  you  the 
good  advice  besides  to  clear  out  of  the  house  next  time 
you  have  upholsterers  in  it,  that  you  may  not  hear  the 
knocking. — To  abide  by  your  news  to  commence  with, 
I  am  glad  you've  had  some  rain  at  last  ;  when  /  return, 
there'll  probably  be  rain  and  cold  enough,  just  as  I 
continually  enjoy  them  here.  At  Sainton's  yesterday  we 
had  the  fire  lit  to  dine  by,  and  I  had  gone  out  in  my 
wadded  coat.  Doubtless  I  shall  have  the  same  thing 
again  on  the  Seelisberg  ;  I  know  its  ways.  That  fore- 
boding, however,  shan't  hold  me  back. 

Yesterday  I  had  my  pass  vise  by  the  Swiss  and 
French  consuls  for  the  journey  home  (which  cost  another 
half  a  sovereign  !).  These  gentry  live  behind  the  Bank 
and  at  London-Bridge  :  to  get  there,  I  drove ;  back  to 
my  lodgings  I  walked,  which  took  me  exactly  tivo 
hours  at  a  fairly  sharp  pace.  That  teaches  one  what 
Time  is  made  for  !  And  charming  rain  all  the  time. 
It's  magnificent  ! 

But  there  :  a  week  from  to-day  I  depart  at  8  P.M. 
I  have  the  last  concert  the  evening  before,  and  shall 
therefore  approach  my  night-journey  as  tired  as  a  dog. 
The  more  need  of  my  having  a  good  night's  sleep  in 
Paris,  which  I  Jiopc  to  do  from  Wednesday  to  Thursday  ; 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  265 

to  that  end  I  shall  get  a  first-rate  bed  engaged  for  me 
by  Kietz.  From  Thursday  to  Friday  I  shall  already 
have  less  chance  of  sleep,  as  I  must  leave  for  the  station 
very  early  in  the  morning  ;  then  [the  night]  from  Friday 
to  Saturday  I  shall  pass  on  the  Basle  mail-coach  again, 
arrive  very  shaky  at  Baden  [Aargau]  at  5  in  the  morning, 
wash  and  rinse  my  mouth  there,  to  reach  my  spouse 
a  bit  presentably  at  Zurich  6  o'clock.  I  think  it  will 
be  enough  for  you  to  do,  to  get  to  the  station  by  6, 
when  we  shall  have  the  whole  day  before  us  for  a  gossip. 
If  you  wanted  to  meet  me  at  Baden,  you  would  have  to 
go  there  the  evening  before,  sleep  there  till  4,  and  so 
on — which  perhaps  would  be  too  much  for  you.  So 
receive  me  on  the  spot  where  you  left  me  four  months 
before  ;  that  has  the  best  sense,  has  it  not  ? — Certainly 
I  don't  require  an  evening-party  ;  it  would  be  different 
if  Boom  etc.  were  just  to  look  in.— 

So  I  am  back  in  Zurich  already,  you  see,  whence 
no  devil  shall  lure  me  so  soon  again  !  Consequently 
I'll  tell  you  at  once,  as  to  L/obmann,  that  the  good 
man  has  dropped  down  on  me  most  inconveniently  ;  in 
my  conviction  he  is  quite  a  mediocre  musician,  and 
also  violinist.  I  cannot  keep  compromising  myself  by 
friendly  recommendation  of  mediocre  people  ;  it  is  a 
hard  thing  to  ask  of  me,  who  am  otherwise  so  strict 
in  my  demands,  and  have  so  entirely  withdrawn  from 
all  that  sort  of  company.  And  to  Spohr,  of  all  men, 
with  whom  I  stand  in  all  but  no  connection  !  And 
what  could  Liszt  do  for  him  ?  The  whole  thing  is  so 
vague  and  void  of  prospect,  that  I'm  only  too  sorry 
if  L,6bmann  came  away  from  Riga  on  this  account. 
It  really  is  very  painful  to  me,  and  I  cannot  decide  so 
at  random  to  give  him  a  recommendation  from  here  ; 


266  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

we  will  go  into  the  thing  again  at  Zurich.  What  a 
misfortune  that  every  one  insists  on  taking  me  for 
something  altogether  different  from  what  I  am  !— 

Well,  my  time  is  running  to  its  end  here,  and  the 
Devil  may  care  for  the  rest  of  it  !  Yet  it  amuses  me 
to  look  on  at  my  (so  highly  disputed)  successes  here. 
There  exists  here,  you  know,  a  New  Philharmonic 
Society  (which  got  Lindpaintner  over  from  Stuttgart 
last  year,  and  had  my  Tannhauser  overture  conducted  by 
him),  and  it  would  gladly  have  me  for  conductor  next 
year.  Its  present  conductor  (Dr.  Wylde,  an  execrable 
musician,  but  good  fellow)  puts  it  to  me  that  I  should 
have  a  much  larger  and  less  starchy  audience  there, 
besides  all  conceivable  means,  and  in  particular,  as  many 
rehearsals  as  I  chose.  Of  course  I've  given  him  an 
answer  in  the  negative.  Yet  he  will  not  be  denied  the 
repeating  of  my  Tannhauser  overture  at  their  last  concert 
(beginning  of  July) — when  Berlioz  conducts  and  gives 
things  of  his  own  ;  he  wants  me  to  instruct  either  him 
or  Berlioz  in  the  tempi  most  minutely,  that  I  may  be 
sure  of  its  going  according  to  my  wish.  Perhaps  I  may 
consent  :  for,  once  I'm  out  of  London,  they  can  do  what 
they  like  behind  my  back  ;  moreover,  it  would  really  be 
another  good  revenge. — 

Fischer  also  wrote  me  a  few  days  since,  asking  if  I 
couldn't  give  him  a  little  information  about  my  position 
here,  which  he  might  communicate  to  the  editor  of  the 
Sachsische  Constitutionelle-Zeitung  in  order  to  refute 
false  rumours.  I  since  have  done  so,  and  told  him  in 
particular  about  my  interview  with  the  Queen  :  that  will 
make  a  deal  of  stir  in  Saxony.  You  musn't  let  the 
heap  of  detractions  and  lies  in  the  journals  disturb  you  : 
in  the  first  place,  it  is  only  scamps  who  write  there,  to 


ZURICH    PERIOD    (LONDON)  267 

pick  up  money  ;  no  respectable  person  ever  writes  to  a 
newspaper  until  some  lie  becomes  too  shameless  and  needs 
disproof.  Prager  has  now  seen  to  that  for  several  German 
papers  :  a  New  York  music-sheet,  in  which  he  also 
writes,  has  already  begun  a  regular  campaign  against 
the  critics  here,  and  shewn  up  their  mendacity  ;  since 
Dawison  has  been  so  stupid  as  to  take  furious  notice  of  it 
in  his  journal,  this  American  paper  has  suddenly  become 
widely  read  in  London,  and  a  long  war  has  accordingly 
commenced,  the  end  whereof  is  not  in  sight  yet.  To 
myself  thai  end  is  immaterial,  for  nobody  will  lure  me  here 
again,  and  some  day  no  doubt  I  shall  find  an  occasion  for 
letting  these  people  know  why.  For  the  present,  however, 
I  stick  to  it  : — it  would  have  been  better  if  I  had  declined 
the  invitation  hither,  as  even  in  the  most,  favourable  event 
I  have — nothing  to  seek  here.  I  have  other  things  to  do, 
than  conducting  symphonies  and  concert-arias  for  asses. 
Full  stop  to  that  ! 

—So  farewell,  dear  old  Minna  !  Probably  you  will 
get  2  more  letters  from  here  ;  then  one  from  Paris,  and 
finally  in  supreme  person 

Thy 
magnificent  husband  R.W. 

The  evening  before  last  Prager  gave  me  some  pills 
to  assist  me  ;  but  I  couldn't  lay  hand  on  the  confounded 
little  box,  and  have  been  unable  to  take  any  of  them  yet. 
I've  found  it  again  to-day,  though  ;  so  it  shall  do  the  job  ! 

102. 

LONDON,  23.  June  1855. 

YOU    ENTIRELY    GOOD    MlENEL    OF    MINE, 

I    really    must    send  you  a    letter,    even  if   there 
cannot  be  much  in  it. — I  have  just  been  slightly  resting 


268  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

off  the  last  rehearsal  I  ever  am  like  to  have  held  of  a 
concert,  it  pulls  me  so  utterly  down  now.  In  thought 
I  left  England  long  since,  of  which  I  therefore  shall  have 
seen  but  little.  I  don't  believe  I  shall  even  get  to 
Richmond  still  ;  but  it  also  is  quite  immaterial  to  me. 
So  wretched  a  life  as  I  have  enjoyed  here  these  4  months 
can  only  conclude  with  sheer  disdain.— 

Such  a  cold  wind  has  been  blowing  the  last  few  days, 
that  my  catarrh  has  become  wholly  unbearable.  By 
Prager's  advice  I  am  taking  a  daily  aperient  now.  Finally 
the  rheum  has  invaded  my  nose,  in  such  force  as  to  make 
me  already  fear  getting  my  Face-rose  [eruption]  again. 
That  flower  would  be  the  only  one  still  lacking  in  the 
garden  of  my  London  joys  !  Indeed  it  is  a  deuced  dog's 
life  I  have  led  here  ;  I  can't  look  back  on  it  with  any 
other  feeling  than  upon  a  hell.  But  this  latest  lesson 
no  doubt  will  leave  some  fruit  behind  it — I  think  and 
hope  so  ! — 

Well — what  more  shall  I  write  you  from  this  loath- 
some hole  ? — I  know  of  nothing  better  than  the  assurance 
that  on  Tuesday  (the  evening  of  the  day  on  which  you 
uncover  these  lines)  I  shall  be  clearing  out  ;  whilst  a 
week  from  to-day  I  shall  have  drunk  coffee  and  eaten 
my  dinner  already  in  the  arms  of  my  children  and 
on  the  neck  of  my  spouse  : — so — all  in  fact  is  well. 
Now  see  that  that  spouse  is  tlioroiighly  well  herself, 
in  good  health  and  good  humour,  that  I  may  have 
the  whole  delight  I  wish  in  her  !  Be  on  your  best 
behaviour,  take  good  care  of  yourself  this  remaining 
week,  that  wre  poor  souls  may  reunite  in  thorough 
gladness. 

Tuesday  I  probably  shall  write  once  more,  ere 
starting  ;  if  not,  I  shall  write  from  Paris. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  269 

Fare    i  oooooo    times    well,   and    hold    me   30  oooooo 
times  dear  !— 

Kind  greetings  to  our  good  friends  from  Thy 

RRRRlCHARD. 

Thanks  for  Schmidt's  letter.      I  expect  to  write  him 
yet  from  here. 

[The  Parts  letter  is  missing,  and  husband  and  wife  had  no  further 
need  of  written  communications  till  he  was  ordered  away  to  attend  to 
his  health  next  summer. — TrJ} 

103. 

MORNEX,  Wednesday,  \\June.  1856. 

At  last,  dear  good  Minna,  I  breathe  again  and  com- 
mence to  hope! — I  moved  in  here  yesterday  afternoon, 
and  now  propose  pursuing  my  thorough  restoration, 
without  which  I  should  not  care  to  go  on  living  ! — But 
first  of  all  I  must  narrate  to  you  at  length,  after  my 
two  brief  telegrams,  how  things  have  gone  with  me  ; 
for  which  reason  I  have  taken  a  large  sheet  of  paper 
straight  off,  as  a  smaller  would  never  hold  even  the  half 
of  what  I  intended  to  write  to  you.- — -Now  for  it  ! — 

First  the  journey  !  It  was  the  unluckiest  and  most 
miserable  I've  ever  made — unfortunately  it  came  to  a 
Friday  while  I  still  was  en  route  ! — From  Baden  in  the 
evening  on  the  diligence  to  Aarau,  in  an  awful  coupe 
with  two  stout  chaps  who  naturally  would  have  been 
choked  if  they  hadn't  opened  the  windows,  which  com- 
pelled me  in  turn  to  draw  my  cloak  over  my  head  and 
sweat  like  a  joint  in  the  oven.  At  Aarau  change  of 
carriage  in  the  night — then  the  same  story  till  Biel. 
There — in  the  morning — I  hoped  to  be  released  and  board 
the  steamer  ;  but  all  water-traffic  had  been  suspended 
owing  to  the  inundations,  and  consequently  the  whole 


2/0  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

advantage  of  this  route  was  lost  !  So  by  coach  again  to 
Neuf- Chdtel :  terrible  rain  there  ;  2^  hours  by  steamer 
to  Yverdon,  in  the  cabin  of  course,  the  whole  landscape 
veiled  in  clouds.  Then  it  began  in  earnest  !  The 
steamer  arrived  half  an  hour  late,  and  instead  of  taking 
the  i  o'clock  train — which  had  left  already — I  had  to 
wait  for  the  5.  Good  !  When  I  get  to  the  station,  they 
declare  that  my  dog  must  be  put  in  the  dog-box  ;  you 
may  imagine  what  a  scene  ensued  !  All  my  pleas, 
entreaties,  threats,  were  of  no  avail  ;  at  last  I  took  Fips 
under  my  arm,  and  tried  to  mount  in  spite  of  all  denials  : 
fresh  uproar  !  Finally  it  was  heard  by  some  ladies  who 
were  seated  in  a  coupe  :  they  declared  themselves  perfectly 
willing  to  admit  myself  and  puppy  to  their  carriage  ;  so 
the  martinets  gave  way  at  last,  and  I  got  in  with  Fips 
in  triumph — but  after  shameful  vexation  !— 

That  is  by  no  means  all,  though  !  At  7  the  train 
arrived  at  Morges  on  the  L/ake  of  Geneva  ;  the  steamer — 
which,  if  we  had  left  Yverdon  by  the  right  train,  would 
have  brought  me  to  Geneva  in  2  hours,  so  that  I  should 
have  arrived  there  by  5 — this  steamer  of  course  had  long 
gone,  and  its  missing  would  have  to  be  remedied  by  a 
fresh  journey  of  5^  hours  in  the  diligence — i.e.  half 
another  night  !  So  I  decided  to  stay  the  night  at  Morges, 
and  take  the  first  steamer  next  morning  ;  but  the  station 
people  had  already  put  my  luggage  on  the  diligence, 
which  I  mistook  for  a  mere  omnibus  to  Morges.  Ponder- 
ing what's  to  be  done,  suddenly  I  am  ordered  out  of  the 
coupe  into  which  I  had  mounted  ;  my  coupe  ticket  does 
not  hold  good  here,  the  passengers  from  Lausanne  have 
first  right,,  Very  well,  say  I,  I  shall  get  out  and  remain 
here  ;  give  me  my  luggage  ! — That's  stowed  away,  they 
tell  me,  there's  no  time  left  to  get  it  down. — A  running 


ZURICH    PERIOD  271 

accompaniment  of  rain  and  storm  !  I  was  beside  myself, 
used  all  the  bad  language  I  could  think  of — but  in  the 
end  was  obliged  to  give  in,  as  I  didn't  want  to  be  left 
with  no  luggage.  Which  seat  ?  Inside,  the  middle 
place  back  to  the  horses  ;  opposite  me  two  pedlars  with 
big  bundles  on  their  laps,  beside  me  a  woman  with  an 
enormous  hump — exactly  poking  my  way — and  added  to 
it  all,  a  screaming  child  !  The  best,  moreover,  was  that 
the  incensed  conductor  wouldn't  even  let  me  keep  the 
dog  :  Not  allowed  in  the  interieur,  must  be  tied  to  the 
carriage  !  !  I  thought  I  should  go  mad  !  The  other 
passengers  naturally  intervened,  however,  all  burdened 
as  they  were,  God  knows,  and  Kips  remained  without 
so  much  as  stirring — the  good,  well-behaved  beast !  That 
journey  to  Geneva  was  the  crown  of  all  joys,  and  truly  I 
had  not  believed  I  should  ever  have  to  go  through  such 
a  thing  again  in  my  life  !  At  last  I  arrived,  half  past 
twelve  !  At  2  o'clock  to  bed,  in  hideous  agitation  and 
constant  terror  of  another  outbreak  of  the  Roses  ! — There's 
a  plectsu re-trip  for  you  !  !  Via  Berne  it  would  have  gone 
almost  uninterruptedly  smoothly,  but  I  wanted  it  pleasanter  ! 
However,  it  was  all  the  inundation's  fault — otherwise, 
and  especially  with  fine  weather,  everything  would  have 
been  decidedly  better. — So  there  you  have  my  travelling 
adventures  !  — 

At  Geneva  a  hurricane  from  the  north  raged  for  two 
days,  which  certainly  was  to  bring  fair  weather,  but  made 
it  extremely  risky  for  me  to  go  out.  On  Saturday  I  sent 
Dr  R.'s  letter  to  M.  John  Coindet,  who  had  left  home, 
however  ;  so  I  followed  R.'s  counsel,  and  sent  the  letter 
with  his  card  to  the  brother,  Doctor  Coindet :  instead  of 
appointing  me  an  hour  to  consult  him,  he  was  so  kind 
as  to  call  at  once  himself.  He  directed  me  to  Momcx, 


272  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

as  the  only  place  where  I  should  find  what  I  sought,  and 
further  gave  me  good  advice  about  my  malady.  So  I 
took  a  carriage  on  Sunday,  and  saw  to  everything  ;  only 
I  couldn't  get  consent  as  yet,  for  reasons  which  you  shall 
learn  in  an  instant.  In  the  afternoon  I  returned  to 
Geneva,  and  made  another  excursion  that  evening,  to 
Cologny,  to  see  Pastor  Bourris  (whom  I  knowr  from 
Albisbrunn)  ;  but  he,  too,  had  gone  for  a  holiday. 

Well,  my  new  landlady  kept  me  waiting  until  Monday 
evening  for  her  answer,  which  turned  out  favourably  in 
the  event  :  yesterday  afternoon  I  finally  moved  in. — Now 
let  me  describe  my  place  of  refuge. — Mornex — a  sort  of 
village — is  two  leagues  from  Geneva,  already  in  Savoy  ; 
it  lies  on  the  other  side  of  Mont  Saleve,  half  way  up 
that  mountain,  which  is  ascended  by  tourists  from 
Geneva  for  the  sake  of  its  beautiful  view.  The  air  is 
splendid,  since  the  spot  itself  stands  very  high.  I'm 
living  at  the  pension  Latard,  in  a  summer-house  that 
lies  quite  isolated,  divided  from  the  pension  by  a  garden  ; 
it  really  is  the  garden  salon  intended  as  a  drawing-room 
for  the  boarders.  There  is  quite  a  good  piano  in  it  ; 
which  was  a  great  consideration  to  me,  as  I  should  other- 
wise have  had  to  get  one  from  Geneva  at  huge  expense. 
I  had  only  one  condition  to  agree  to,  for  the  immense 
favour  of  obtaining  this  pavilion  to  myself :  every  Sunday 
I  must  clear  out  from  9  to  12  in  the  morning,  as  the 
salon  is  arranged  for  Divine  service  then  for  the  Genevans 
staying  here  ;  the  parson  comes,  and  the  devil  takes  flight. 
I  have  to  accept  it  with  a  good  grace,  as  the  other 
advantages  are  so  numerous  that  I  could  have  attained 
them  nowhere  else.  Firstly  :  complete  seclusion,  private 
attendance,  warm  bath  (enormously  important  !),  meals 
to  my  choice  ;  then  a  hydropathic  institute  close  by, 


ZURICH    PERIOD  273 

where  I  shall  be  able  to  have  my  cold  baths  later  in  the 
greatest  comfort  ;  still  later  I  shall  have  the  Arve  (the 
river)  fairly  near.  From  my  door  I  step  direct  into  a 
pretty  garden  ;  from  the  window  I  step  on  to  a  balcony, 
with  the  most  glorious  view  of  the  entire  Mont  Blanc 
range  and  a  lovely  broad  valley  between. — Naturally  it 
wasn't  to  be  had  very  cheap,  but  I  must  hit  on  some 
means  of  enjoying  it  as  long  as  possible  ;  for  /  need  it— 
and  it  isn't  to  be  had  any  else  ! — I  have  bargained  for 
the  most  complete  non-disturbance  ;  except  Francois,  the 
waiter,  I  never  see  a  soul  ! — 

My  malady  indeed  has  made  great  strides  ;  last  winter 
it  used  to  vanish  entirely  at  times,  and  I  knew  no  more 
of  it  for  weeks  :  now  I  don't  pass  an  hour  without  dread- 
ing a  fresh  outbreak,  so  that  I  feel  myself  the  wretchedest 
of  men.  That  must  be  radically  altered,  and  I  am  doing 
everything  that  promises  it.  Dr  Coindet  assured  me, 
the  principal  thing  was  the  strictest  dieting  and  rest  :  I 
might  have  remarked,  he  said,  that  the  outbreaks  were 
always  connected  with  preceding  errors  of  diet  and 
irregularities,  the  results  whereof  I  no  longer  experienced 
in  my  abdomen,  as  before,  but  precisely  in  an  attack  of 
these  Roses.  How  right  he  is  :  I  can  prove  it  to  have 
been  so,  and  feel  it,  moreover,  at  last.  I  am  therefore 
to  live  wholly  by  rule,  never  the  slightest  deviation  ;  beer 
and  the  like  lead  direct  to  attacks.  He  has  also  for- 
bidden me  coffee,  and  that  most  strictly,  not  even  half 
milk.  (Just  ask  Dr  R.  what  he  says  to  that  !)  Out  of 
doors  I  must  avoid  both  wind  and  sun  ;  in  the  sun  I'm 
to  bear  an  umbrella.  He  expects  much  from  the  air 
here,  great  repose  without  any  excitement,  and  regular 
diet.  Do  tell  Dr  R.  that  no  one  here  has  ever  heard  of 
Tavaster  water  ;  Coindet  recommended  Laxir  lemonade 
VOL.  i  1 8 


274  RICHARD   TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

of  a  morning  instead  ;  meanwhile  I  stick  to  Carlsbad 
salts,  two  doses  of  which  I  take  each  morning.  I'm  to 
begin  the  sulphur  baths  to-day — God  grant  me  restora- 
tion of  my  health  !  No  sacrifice  can  be  too  great  to  me 
for  that  ;  for  in  this  condition  I'm  the  most  unbearable 
of  men,  and  can  give  no  one  any  pleasure  !— 

To  write  Pips'  praises  I  should  need  to  take  another 
whole  sheet,  the  animal  is  so  touchingly  well-behaved, 
kind,  docile  and  reliable  !  Seated  on  the  little  table, 
when  the  train  left  Zurich  he  suddenly  began  to  howl, 
and  kept  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  side  from  which  you 
vanished  ;  he  took  no  notice  of  me  at  all,  talk  to  him 
as  much  as  I  liked.  When  I  got  into  the  diligence  he 
reconciled  himself,  and  behaved  so  well,  so  quietly  and 
quite  unnoticeably  throughout  the  journey,  that  I  can't 
possibly  praise  him  enough.  But  he  would  neither  eat 
nor  drink  the  first  few  days,  and  it  was  only  with  the 
choicest  morsels  that  I  could  tempt  him  in  the  end. 
Even  now  he'll  hardly  take  anything  else  ;  though  I 
make  him  his  soup  at  dinner-time — with  tit-bits,  be  it 
said — -and  he's  gradually  coming  round.  He  seems  very 
pleased  with  this  place  ;  when  I  open  the  doors  for  him, 
he  first  goes  and  lies  on  the  balcony,  taking  stock  of  the 
landscape,  the  people  and  cattle,  then  makes  his  pro- 
menade round  the  garden.  He  is  watchful  beyond  all 
measure  :  people  like  him  very  much. — He  sends  best 
greetings  !  On  our  promenade  this  morning  [.  .  .]. 
Suddenly  a  cuckoo  was  heard  ;  he  pricked  up  his  ears 
and  whined  :  he  imagined  it  was  Jacquot ! — I  took 
Pepsel 's  portrait  with  me  purposely  : — I  shall  observe 
the  death-day  of  that  dear  good  friend  with  all  my 
heart  !—  —This  fine  weather  makes  me  wish  you  would 
go  to  the  Seelisberg  quite  soon  yourself;  I  don't  like 


ZURICH    PERIOD  275 

to  think  of  your  being  at  home  with  that  eternal  pro- 
vocation !  Do  go  very  soon.  But  you  must  take 
Jacquot  with  you — I  stick  to  that — his  big  cage  too  : 
please  see  to  it.— 

Now  I  thank  you  again  most  kindly  for  your  good 
letter  ;  agreed,  we  remain  the  same  old  pair.  If  I  could 
only  make  life  thoroughly  agreeable  to  you,  and  banish 
all  provocation,  how  happy  it  would  make  me  !  So  hold 
me  clear,  as  I  hold  you  ;  be  cheerful,  do  all  you  can  for 
your  health — and  hope  for  a  right  merry  reunion,  un- 
ruffled by  the  cares  of  illness  !  Farewell,  good  Muzius, 
be  heartily  greeted  and  kissed 

by  Thy  RICHARD. 

I've  had  news  from  Liszt  that  the  M.  family  thinks 
of  spending  the  summer  at  Zurich  and  seeing  a  lot  of 
me  : — I  couldn't  help  laughing  when  Liszt  expressed 
regret  at  it  !  Well,  I  have  happily  escaped  from  that, 
and  its  like  !  ! — How  fortunate  that  I'm  away  !  — 

Give  my  kindest  regards  to  the  Wesendoncks  ;  I 
think  of  writing  them  tomorrow  or  the  next  day.— 

No  letters  can  get  here  direct,  because  there's  no  post 
here  whatever  ;  so  just  go  on  addressing  postc-restante, 
Geneve.  A  messenger  goes  to  Geneva  even-  day,  taking 
letters  in,  and  fetching  them  out. — 


104. 


stc     \% 

>          °' 


MORNEX,  Thursday  19.  June  .'856. 


I've  only  just  received  your  telegraphic  answer,  dear 
Minna  !      You  cannot  have  written  the  first  sentence  quite 


276  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

plainly  ;  it  was  pure  nonsense  till  an  inspiration  came 
to  me  that  it  should  run  :  "  Karl  seit  heut  hier  "  ["  Karl 
reached  here  to-day  "] — instead  of  which  it  said,  u  Nurt 
seit  heut  sieger."  —Your  letter  had  already  reassured  me  : 
everything  arrives  here  very  late.  To-day,  however,  I 
merely  wanted  to  retrieve  what  I  couldn't  write  more 
fully  yesterday.*  So,  I  have  had  to  move  out,  and 
therefore  to  renounce  the  lovely  solitude  of  my  garden- 
house  ;  that  sort  of  joy  seems  really  not  appointed  me, 
and  all  my  life  I  shall  have  to  suffer  from  disturbance, 
disquiet  and  outward  commotion  :  if  only  I  be  not  made 
entirely  unfit  for  further  work  through  no  prospect  ever 
opening  to  me  of  a  pleasant,  quiet  refuge  for  my  home  ! — 
already  I've  highly  taxed  my  nerve-endurance. 

In  no  case  should  I  have  removed  to  where  I'm 
staying  now,  had  I  had  nothing  but  commencement  of 
my  work  in  view  ;  but  I  have  been  feeling  more  and 
more  that  the  first  question  could  only  be  the  restoration 
of  my  health,  and  in  that  respect  I  believe  I  have  done 
very  right.  Even  Dr  Coindet,  to  whom  R.  recommended 
me,  was  startled  when  I  shewed  him  R.'s  prescriptions, 
especially  about  the  sulphur  baths,  and  told  me  to  entrust 
myself  regarding  baths  to  Dr  Vaillant,  who  presides  over 
an  institute  here,  and  not  to  do  too  much.  Well,  scarcely 
had  I  installed  the  baths  with  difficulty — in  strict  pursuit 
of  R.'s  instructions  —  when  I  fell  into  such  a  fluster  again 
that  I  didn't  know  what  to  do  with  myself.  Dr  Vaillant, 
to  whom  I  addressed  myself  anent  the  ordinary  baths,  was 
horrified  when  he  heard  of  the  sulphur  baths,  and  implored 
me  to  stop  them  at  once  ;  with  which  I  very  willingly 
complied.  Under  Yaillant's  treatment,  I  feel  considerably 


A  missing  letter;  see  also  the  opening  of  No.  105. — Tr. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  277 

better  since  ;  he  is  handling  me  with  uncommon  care, 
extremely  cautiously  and  soothingly,  and  getting  at  the 
mischiefs  seat  so  thoroughly  that  I  already  have  the 
greatest  trust  in  him — which  he  seems  to  have  won  from 
others  also,  for  it  is  he  who  was  summoned  to  Florence 
express  by  Rossini,  and  owing  to  whose  advice  the  latter 
is  so  much  better  now  than  2  years  back.  In  short,  my 
health  is  now  ensured,  and  I  recognise  that  R.'s  quack- 
sal  veries,  just  as  they  haven't  yet  cured  me,  would  never 
have  thoroughly  healed  me  ;  consequently  the  drug-shop, 
God  willing,  shall  cost  me  nothing  more. — But  please  tell 
Hcim,  the  only  thing  Vaillant  allows  me  to  take  internally 
is  Carlsbad  salt. — As  to  my  life  here  otherwise,  I'll  write 
you  more  another  time  ;  the  situation  is  splendid,  the 
air  wonderful,  and  the  garden  walks  most  agreeable.  Fips 
finds  much  amusement  in  them,  and  is  making  himself 
quite  at  home.  About  him,  too,  another  time.  —  But  now 
to  conclude  with  something  serious  !— 

Dearest  Minna,  N.    must  go  :  there's  nothing  else  for 
it.      Rather  put  up  with  anything,    than  this  everlasting 
provocation,    recurring   every  instant,    which  not   only   is 
hurtful  to  yourself,  but  truly  sours  my  life.      It  is  utterly 
impossible  to  accustom  her  to  our  persons  ;   it  would  be 
a  misfortune  for  her,   as  well  as   for  us,   if  she  remained 
an}-  longer.      I  cannot  tell  you  how  our  domestic  life  is 
spoilt    for   me  by  this  eternal  irritation,    which    I  partly 
observe   in    you,    partly  also  feel  myself  ;  no  longer  can 
I    tolerate    this   everlasting   scolding,    occasion   for  which 
never  ceases,  alas  ;  and  you  are  ruining  your  health  with 
it,  just  as  it  is  completely  hardening  N.  and  estranging 
her    from  us.      God  knows  what  her  future  is  to  be,    as 
she  is  so  totally  unfit  for  household  duties  ;  but  thus  much 
is  certain,  in  other  social  relations,    such  as  at  Zwickau 


278  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

perhaps,  she  will  get  on  better,  and  also  lead  a  more 
contented  life  herself.  For  all  that,  she  shall  not  be 
abandoned  by  us,  and  I  therefore  pledge  myself  for  good 
and  all  to  pay  her  the  100  fr.  quarterly  your  good  parents 
received  before.  That  shall  be  an  absolute  fixture  ; 
consequently  I  don't  think  she  will  prove  a  burden  to 
anybody,  and  even  the  Trogers  will  be  sure  to  take  her 
willingly  into  their  house  on  this  condition.  I  beg  you, 
make  the  settlement  of  this  affair  your  chiefest  care  now, 
and — if  possible — get  rid  of  her  before  I  return  ;  for,  I 
swear  it,  this  disturbance — and  vexation — in  the  house  is 
a  terrible  strain  on  me.  If  my  circumstances  improve — 
toward  which  I  shall  take  steps — we're  sure  to  find  a 
suitable  young  person  soon,  to  fill  the  place  we  intended 
for  N.  ;  you  might  even  begin  to  think  of  it  now,  and 
any  handy  girl  may  congratulate  herself  on  entering 
siich  an  agreeable  relation  as  N.  might  have  had  if  she 
had  possessed  but  a  modicum  of  the  qualifications. — Now 
you  know  my  opinion  !— 

So  farewell  for  to-day,  dear  old  woman  ;  I  dreamt 
of  you  quite  vividly  the  other  night  !  Lord,  if  I  could 
have  anything  like  an  agreeable,  quiet,  semi-rural  abode, 
and  kind,  congenial  household,  I  am  the  most  domesticated 
man  in  the  world  and  never  should  wish  myself  anywhere 
else  for  a  moment  :  in  a  strange  house  like  this  I'm 
always  very  dull  and  mopish.  So  adieu  ! 

The  best  of  wishes  from  Thy 

RICH. 

Fips  is  imceasingly  on  the  watch  again. — To-day 
the  weather  has  also  turned  fine.  I  have  obtained  a 
piano  from  Geneva,  for  diversion  at  least.  Please  send 
me  the  musical  and  illustrated  journals  in  wrapper — it 


ZURICH    PERIOD  279 

won't  cost  much.  Perhaps  also  the  3  volumes  of 
Beethoven's  sonatas,  but  in  a  parcel — otherwise  I  shan't 
be  able  to  hold  out. 


105. 

MORN  EX.     Paste  restante  No.  in. 

A  GENEVE 

22.  June  1856. 

MOST  EXCELLENT  MlNNA, 

How  cross  you  get  at  once,  whenever  it  appears 
to  you  I'm  lazy  !  You  will  be  having  two  letters  from 
me  now  ;  so  just  consider  the  impression  such  reproaches 
make  on  me,  after  I've  long  since  told  you  everything 
there  was  to  tell  ! — But,  that  apart,  the  postal  arrange- 
ments here  are  absurd  enough  :  I  wrote  you  Wednesday 
that  I  should  write  again  on  Thursday,  assuming  that 
the  Thursday  letter,  which  unfortunately  doesn't  leave 
Geneva  till  Friday,  would  reach  you  at  Zurich  on  Sunday 
morning.  On  Friday  comes  the  messenger,  and  brings 
me  a  letter — it  was  mine  to  you,  which  the  asses  at 
Geneva  had  sent  me  back  because  it  was  addressed  to 
"Wagner"  :  they  hadn't  regarded  the  "  Frau."  Con- 
sequently you  will  have  received  that  letter  also  a  day 
late,  presumably  at  Seelisberg,  whither  I  shall  send 
to-day's  direct.— 

Naturally  I  haven't  much  to  tell  you  from  my  solitude, 
except  that  the  weather  has  at  last  turned  fine  again 
to-day,  and  I've  already  had  a  glorious  walk  with  Fips 
on  Mont-Sal&ve,  whence  I  bring  you  back  this  gentian 
to  compare  with  that  on  the  Seelisberg.  It  was  bad 
weather  almost  the  whole  of  last  week,  cold  and  damp, 
so  that  I  couldn't  well  do  much  with  my  cure  ;  nevertheless 
I  already  feel  infinitely  better  than  when  I  left  Zurich  : 


28o  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

the  dread  of  a  relapse  of  the  Roses  has  already  left  me  ; 
I  have  gambolled  outside  in  the  deadliest  rain  and  storm, 
got  my  face  cold,  and  yet  had  no  uneasiness  about  it. 
Who  ever  would  have  told  me  that  ten  days  ago,  when 
I  always  went  out  with  my  nose  muffled  if  the  tiniest 
breeze  was  blowing  ?  No  doubt  I  owe  it  in  the  first 
place  to  the  wholesome,  frugal  diet,  without  coffee  etc., 
the  repose  and  removal  of  all  effort  and  vexation  ;  but 
chiefly  to  the  baths  I'm  taking  under  excellent  Dr. 
Vaillant's  guidance  with  the  greatest  energy  and  success  : 
washings  and  rubbings  with  a  wet  clout,  first  lukewarm — 
then  colder.  The  cold  foot-baths  also  do  me  special  good  ; 
you  must  try  them  yourself  :  only  a  little  walk  first,  to 
get  the  feet  warm,  then  20  minutes  in  cold  water,  gently 
rubbing  the  feet  one  on  the  other,  and  after  that  a  good 
half  hour's  march.  You  will  hardly  believe  what  an 
excellent  effect  these  foot-baths  have  !— 

I  told  Vaillant  of  the  infamous  water  R.  had  pre- 
scribed me  through  you  ;  he  thought  we  might  just  wait 
for  its  arrival,  when  he  would  analyse  it,  and  if  it 
contained  nothing  injurious,  would  gladly  consent  to  its 
use.  So  I'm  in  the  hands  of  no  water-cure  fanatic,  you 
see.  For  the  rest,  R.  must  leave  me  at  peace  with  his 
Aix.  I'm  getting  well,  I  know  it  now  :  my  complaint 
resides  in  the  abdomen,  as  you  are  aware  from  the  terrible 
flatulence  ;  that  must  be  thoroughly  remedied,  and  there- 
with— by  the  middle  of  August — I  hope  to  arrive  at  my 
goal.- 

I'm  living  in  another  part  of  the  house  now,  quite 
comfortably,  two  pretty  rooms,  one  of  which  I  have  ar- 
ranged as  a  little  salon.  From  my  windows  I  can  alight 
on  a  big  balcony  which  runs  right  round  the  house  ; 
it  is  a  piece  of  luck  for  Fips  in  particular,  who  always 


ZURICH    PERIOD  281 

lies  on  the  window-sill,  and  springs  out  as  soon  as  he 
sees  anything — after  which  I  always  have  to  help  him 
in  again.  In  fine  weather  I  mostly  walk  or  sit  in  the 
pretty  hilly  garden-grounds,  which  likewise  is  very 
agreeable  to  Fips.  The  air  is  quite  exquisite  ;  headache 
vanishes  immediately  one  gets  here  ;  I  have  experienced 
no  particular  heat  as  yet. 

So  much  for  myself:  I  hope  you're  pleased  with 
it  ?  Strictly,  no  doubt,  I  ought  to  write  you  on  nothing 
but  Fips,  as  you  appear  more  concerned  about  him  — 
for  which  I  can't  find  any  fault  with  you  !  But  it  has 
moved  me  to  tears,  that  you  poor  thing  should  be  wanting 
to  break  off  your  soporific  reading  just  for  me  to  get  the 
Eidgenossische  here  ;  for  your  consolation  I  must  tell 
you,  I  didn't  mean  the  Eidgenossische  at  all  ;  by  all 
means  keep  it,  and  simply  send  instead  the  Illustrirte 
(which  you  must  renew  for  me,  by  the  way  !  !)  and 
perhaps  the  music-journal,  which  the  Wesendoncks  might 
see  to  for  me.  But  every  time  in  rvrappcr. 

Now,  I  am  heartily  glad  to  know  you're  on  the 
lovely  Seelisberg  ;  enjoy  it  to  the  top  of  your  bent  ! 
As  my  present  hope  stands,  I'm  thinking  of  another  little 
undertaking  for  late  summer,  in  which  you  shall  play 
a  fine  part  :  would  you  like  to  ?  ?  So,  fare  splendidly 
well,  greet  the  Seelisbergers,  and  hold  very  dear 

Thy 

not  at  all  so  bad 

HUSBAND. 

Business  is  looking  up  ;  orders  have  come  in  from 
Hanover  and  Carlsruhe  !— 

An  organ-grinder  has  just  begun  playing,  at  which. 
Fips  is  furious.  He  has  jumped  down. 


282  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Do  tell  me  if  you  duly  received  my  letter  on  N. 

I  have  written  to  Fr.  Miiller,  Weimar,  as  well  to-day. 

1O6. 

MORNEX,  25.  June  1856. 

DEAR  MIENEL  ! 

Morning.  Last    night    I    had    bad    dreams, 

which  I  luckily  can  very  well  explain  :  my  former 
eruption  has  now  been  reduced  to  the  ancient  catarrh, 
which  will  be  easy  to  thoroughly  get  at,  but  meanwhile 
resides  in  my  brain  too,  and  tries  to  work  itself  out  there 
during  sleep.  On  the  other  side,  the  last  few  days  I  had 
often  been  thinking  of  the  arrangement  in  respect  of  N., 
particularly  of  the  allowance  she  is  to  have,  which  your 
good  parents  formerly  received,  and  so  I  also  thought 
a  deal  of  them.  Add  to  it  your  last  letter,  which  in- 
formed me  you  were  not  taking  Jacquot  with  you  to 
the  Seelisberg,  but  he  was  to  stay  behind  alone.  Out 
of  all  this,  with  the  harassing  aid  of  my  still  not 
fluidified  rheum,  there  shaped  themselves  the  following 
dreams,  which  unfortunately  I  haven't  got  pat  in  my 
memory,  but  the  first  whereof  commenced  pretty  well 
thus  : — You  had  gone  away  from  me,  and  would  have 
nothing  more  to  do  with  me  ;  I  hunted  for  you  ( — as 
really  happened  once,  long  years  ago  ! — )  and  found 
you  rather  poorly  housed  with  your  parents,  which 
made  me  more  and  more  distressed,  the  more  you  refused 
to  come  with  me  ;  till  at  last  I  called  to  you  in  horror, 
"  But  your  parents  are  dead  !  "  which  ended  in  my 
shouting  your  name  aloud  and  waking  up.  My  shout 
alarmed  someone  above  me,  who  tumbled  about  for  a 
long  time  before  he  grew  quiet  again. — Then  I  had 
another  dream  :  I  was  roaming  with  Pcpscl,  and  seeking 


ZURICH    PERIOD  283 

you  again,  for  you  had  run  away  from  me  once  more  ; 
it  made  Pepsel  grow  weaker  and  weaker  ;  I  looked  at 
him  steadily,  and  his  eyes  sank  the  more  and  more  in, 
so  that  it  gave  me  indescribable  grief.  At  last  I  found 
your  lonely  dwelling  ;  you  had  gone  out,  and  the  little 
room  was  empty.  Inside,  though,  I  heard  Jacquot 
whistling  and  chattering  vastly  merrily  ;  I  went  in, 
and  was  met  by  a  strong  draught  :  a  window  stood 
open,  which  I  did  my  best  to  close,  without  fully 
succeeding  ;  there  were  all  kinds  of  slides  and  cross- 
sashes,  so  that  it  took  me  all  my  time  till  I  woke  up. 
You  will  easily  recognise  how  this  second  dream  in 
particular  was  occasioned  by  what  you  wrote  me  of  your 
fears  about  Jacquot  if  you  took  him  with  you  to  the 
Seelisberg.— 

There  you  have  my  dreams  :  of  my  waking  I've 
little  to  tell  you,  except  that  we  have  had  very  fine 
weather  since  Sunday,  that  it  has  made  me  feel  very 
well,  my  cure  offers  excellent  promise,  and  I  live  in 
the  best  hopes  of  a  radical  restoration.  You  shall  give 
me  the  cue  for  more  through  the  letter  I  am  expecting 
to-day,  as  there  isn't  much  to  answer  for  the  present 
in  your  last. 

Afternoon. — The  hoped-for  letter  hasn't  come;  the 
recent  scandalous  confusion  is  sure  to  be  to  blame  for 
it  ;  you  will  have  left  Zurich  before  my  letter  reached 
there,  and  some  time  may  still  elapse  before  it  is  sent 
after  you,  so  that  you  will  have  received  my  letter 
to  Seelisberg,  perhaps,  before  the  other.  It  is  doubly 
annoying  to  me,  as  I  should  so  have  liked  to  have  news 
from  you  to-day  ! — 

Now  I  shall  hope  for  tomorrow,  when  I  may  get 
two  letters  at  once  perhaps,  as  the  last  time. — From 


284  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

your  last,  by  the  way,  I  gathered  that  you  might  be 
changing  your  mind  as  to  N.  again  :  I  am  awaiting 
your  answer  to  my  proposal  about  it,  but  be  assured 
in  any  case  that  I  abide  by  my  opinion.  It  isn't  a 
question  of  N.'s  forgetting  herself  grossly  for  once, 
and  then  begging  pardon — but  of  the  whole  relation, 
which  cannot  possibly  remain  as  it  is,  for  all  of  our  sakes. 
I  shall  write  to  N.  myself  about  it,  and  try  to  convince 
her  in  all  kindness  and  tranquillity  that  she  has  no  choice. 
—However,  I  shall  write  you  at  length  on  this,  as  said, 
when  you  have  answered  me.— 

I'm  looking  forward  much  to  a  report  from  Seelisberg, 
where  I  hope  you  have  arrived  safe  and  sound  now.— 
From  here,  apart  from  the  already-mentioned,  I  really 
have  nothing  to  relate  ;  I  go  on  calmly  living  for  my 
health  without  disturbance.  Yesterday  I  took  my  first 
hip-bath,  which  has  rendered  me  extraordinarily  good 
service  [.  .]  :  I  take  a  little  Carlsbad  salt  still,  but  nothing 
beyond;  we  will  wait  for  R.'s  water,  all  the  same. — In 
the  evening  ( — we  dine  at  5-^)  I  usually  take  a  long  walk 
with  Fips  on  Mont  Salevc,  whence  I  return  much  invigo- 
rated ;  I  always  ascend,  never  go  down  to  the  valley — on 
account  of  the  beautiful  air.  — 

In  no  case  shall  I  go  to  Aix ;  I  must  write  to  R. 
about  it  shortly. 

I  have  to  check  Fips  already  from  eating  too  much, 
especially  small  bones,  of  which  there  are  a  number  here — 
owing  to  the  frequency  of  cutlets  ;  otherwise  he  does  very 
well,  and  is  exemplarily  faithful.— 

Now,  adieu  for  to-day.  I  hope  to  dream  somewhat 
more  calmly  to-night,  and,  most  to  be  hoped  of  all,  that 
my  dreams  bear  no  ill  omen.  So  hold  me  dear  ! — 


ZURICH    PERIOD  285 

1O7. 

MORNEX,  i.July  1856. 

DEAREST  MINNA, 

The  most  important  thing  for  me  to  answer  at 
once,  in  your  letter  just  received,  concerns  your  health. 
During  my  cure  I  have  often  had  to  think  of  your  own 
condition,  and  especially  your  nervous  agitation  and 
sleeplessness  ;  for  only  now,  under  the  treatment  of  my 
present  doctor,  Vaillant,  have  I  arrived  at  the  secret  of 
treating  such  disorders  with  success. — I  really  am  shocked 
when  I  see  how  these  ailments,  so  frequently  recurring 
with  us,  can  be  thoroughly  got  rid  of  by  the  simplest  and 
most  natural  means  ;  and  how  bungling,  ineffectual,  even 
harmful,  on  the  contrary,  was  the  mode  recommended 
by  R.  After  having  been  so  terribly  upset  by  the 
shameful  sulphur-baths  that  I  had  those  awful  twitch- 
ings  of  the  arm  again  at  night,  one  single  treatment  by 
Vaillant  sufficed  to  procure  me  a  peaceful  night  at  once. 
Yesterday  I  found  myself  in  a  similar  condition  again,  in 
consequence  of  a  sleepless  night  occasioned  by  the  late 
and  noisy  arrival  of  strangers,  who  had  made  me  vilely 
lose  my  temper  ;  but  directly  after  Vaillant' s  most  in- 
genious treatment,  I.  who  before  had  still  been  trembling 
with  excitement,  found  myself  calm  and  most  agreeably 
drowsy  :  a  good  night  has  restored  me  completely. 

I  therefore  bcseecli  you  to  do  as  follows  :  Each  day 
take  one — or  better,  two  (should  you  think  needful)  cold 
foot-baths,  such  as  I  described  to  you  and  you  haven't 
answered  me  about  :  namely — for  20  minutes  on  end, 
and  then  go  for  a  good  half  hour's  walk  to  get  the  feet 
properly  warm  again  :  beforehand,  too,  a  little  walking, 
that  the  feet  mav  at  least  not  be  cold.  Everv  evening- 

o 

ere  retiring   to   bed,    moreover,    get    the   maid   to  rub,    or 


286  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

lave,  your  whole  body  gently  with  a  folded  towel  (like  a 
clout),  which  she  must  repeatedly  dip  in  water,  using  up 
a  whole  bucketful  ;  she  must  alternately  rub  the  back,  the 
hips,  then  the  chest,  the  legs  (but  gently  !)  :  beforehand 
you  must  also  lave  your  forehead.  Then  a  sheet  around 
you  quick,  gentle  rubbing  and  drying,  then  into  bed— - 
and  you  will  feel  a  most  agreeable  soothing,  which  is 
certain  to  help  you  to  sleep.  But  you  must  employ  the 
maid  for  it  ;  if  you  do  it  yourself,  you  will  agitate  your- 
self again.  If  you  have  a  rooted  objection  to  undressing 
before  the  maid,  you  must  just  take  a  wet  towel,  pass  it 
gently  over  the  back — like  a  shawl — the  chest,  and  the 
rest  of  the  body,  for  a  goodish  time,  so  that  you  re-wet 
the  towel  pretty  often  ;  then  dry,  and  to  bed.  You  can 
also  do  this  if  you  feel  flurried  and  sleepless  at  night :  light 
a  candle  at  once,  and  use  the  wet  towel  as  I  have  said. 
But  it  is  better  to  let  the  maid  manipulate  you  every 
evening  in  the  manner  stated — also  by  day,  should  there 
be  need.  If  you're  immoderately  excited,  though,  I'll  tell 
you  what  restored  me  yesterday  at  once.  Vaillant  spread 
a  blanket  on  the  bed,  and  over  it  the  sheet  :  the  latter 
he  sprinkled  with  a  little  water,  then  swathed  me  first 
in  it — (only  as  far  as  tinder  the  arms,  however,  and  the 
same  with  the  blanket) — sprinkled  me  again  with  water, 
using  two  bottlefuls  in  all  ; — then  the  blanket  over  it, 
likewise  tucked  in  lightly,  and  finally  a  feather  mattress — 
couvre-picd — above  it  all  :  mark  well,  though,  only  to  the 
arm-pits  ;  my  arms  and  breast  he  simply  covered  with  a 
sheet,  or  any  article  of  clothing  you  please.  Thus  he  left 
me  till  I  felt  thoroughly  warm,  but  not  until  I  sweated  ; 
then  he  repeated  it,  uncovering  me  again  and  sprinkling 
me  once  more  with  water,  till  I  got  warm  a  second  time  ; 
thereon  a  slight  ablution — with  the  wet  clout — a  wipe 


ZURICH    PERIOD  287 

down,  and  a  little  walk  about,  but  quite  moderate  and 
leisurely,  or  straight  to  bed.  I  tell  you,  all  agitation  had 
vanished  without  leaving  a  trace  ;  I  was  so  drowsy  that 
I  scarce  could  wait  for  night,  which  I  slept  through  like 
a  top.— 

I  entreat  you — do  not  let  this  have  been  said  in 
vain  !  !  ! — 

I  would  rather  get  you  to  come  here  forthwith,  as 
I'm  convinced  that  Dr  Vaillant's  treatment  would  be  of 
the  greatest  benefit  to  you,  better  than  anything  ;  for  the 
moment,  however,  a  few  scruples  restrain  me  :— 

i.  It's  very  dear  (which  I  think  quite  reasonable, 
however,  with  so  exceptional  a  physician)  and  I  don't  yet 
know  how  I  am  to  run  to  it  myself.  2.  Not  a  creature 
speaks  German — except  the  cook — and  you  would  have 
a  difficulty  with  conversation.  3.  Candidly — fond  as  we 
are  of  each  other — I  fear  our  mutually  exciting  ourselves 
more  often  than  quite  suits  a  cure.  You  know  that, 
owing  to  a  difference  of  views — for  all  affection — it  comes 
at  times  to  small  disputes,  which  it  is  better  for  both  of 
us  to  escape  now  and  then  ;  although  I  cordially  admit 
that  /am  more  to  blame  than  you,  particularly  when  I'm 
flurried  and  fretful,  which  is  not  to  be  avoided  with  a 
serious  cure  like  that  in  front  of  me,  when  it's  better  for 
one  to  be  left  alone. — Nevertheless,  these  are  all  objec- 
tions to  be  overcome  by  the  consideration  for  your  JiealtJi. 
I  fancied  you  were  safe  and  sound  at  Seelisberg,  especial ly 
as  regards  your  health  ;  but  if  you  really  don't  feel  well 
there,  and  feel  the  necessity  of  a  more  thorough  cure,  just 
let  me  know  by  return,  and  means  must  be  found  ;  for  I  hold 
it  best  for  you  to  get  yourself  properly  treated  for  once. 
Money  must  be  forthcoming,  without  precisely  burdening 
anvone  :  we  could  dine  in  our  own  sittine-room,  to  dis- 


288  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

pense  you  from  conversation  in  French  ;  whilst  peace  and 
quiet  we  should  have  to  guarantee  ourselves  by  mutual 
good  resolve.— 

So  think  it  over,  as  I  myself  shall  think  it  over  ;  I 
should  so  like  to  help  you  ! 

—But  I  must  close  now,  as  I've  another  application 
to  go  through  myself:  moreover,  I  have  told  you  the 
most  important  ;  absolutely  nothing  else  has  occurred. 
Touching  myself,  rest  assured  I  am  rid  of  tJie  Roses,  and 
getting  thoroughly  restored  in  general.— 

Farewell  for  to-day,  dear  old  woman  !  Fipsel  sends 
greetings,  and  we  both  are  true  as  gold. — A  thousand 
hearty  salutations  from 

Thy  OLD  MAN. 

Once  more  : 

Set  all  else  on  one  side,  and  answer  me  merely  on  this  : 
If  you  feel  the  necessity  of  a  thorough  cure, 
accept  my  offer  unconditionally  ;  write  me 
so  that  I  may  meet  you  at  Geneva  ;  every- 
thing else  must  give  way  ;  one's  health  is 
the  main  point  ! 

1O8. 

MORNEX,  12.  July  1856. 
In  haste  ! 

DEAR  MINNA, 

You  see,  I  take  your  groans  more  seriously  than 
you  do  mine  !  I  am  sorry  to  have  upset  and  even 
alarmed  you  thereby,  and  rejoice  on  the  other  hand  that 
my  fears  about  your  health  were  groundless. 

In  4  weeks  I  expect  to  have  finished  my  cure,  and 
then  to  return  without  stop  ;  for  I  shall  have  much  to 
attend  to  with  vourself  at  Zurich  that  won't  be  disagree- 


ZURICH    PERIOD  289 

able  to  you.  On  that  I'll  write  more  within  the  next 
few  days.  For  the  present  I  withdraw  my  last  proposal  to 
Aufdermauer  ;  *  don't  speak  of  our  first  project  to  him 
any  further.— 

Continue  feeling  so  well  that  you  give  me  no  more 
reason  for  anxiety. 

Thy 

R.   W. 

109. 

MORNEX,    1 8.  July  1856. 

I've  nothing  in  particular  to  write  you,  dearest  Minna  ; 
yet  your  letter  just  received  induces  me  at  least  to  give  you 
a  faint  sign  of  life.  —  I  should  hardly  have  thought  you 
would  have  taken  my  brief  hint  so  gloomily  and  glumly. 
It's  to  be  hoped  my  last  letter  will  have  agreeably  dis- 
pelled all  your  fears,  and  taught  you  the  contrary  ;  for 
you  will  have  seen  by  it  that  I'm  feeling  the  need  of  a 
fixed  place  of  residence  more  keenly  than  ever,  and  even 
longish  summer  outings  have  now  become  a  nuisance  to 
me,  since  they  never  afford  what  one  seeks,  nor  that  which 
a  snug  hearth  of  one's  own,  meeting  all  one's  require- 
ments, alone  can  supply.  So  I  need  waste  no  more 
words  on  it,  as  you  will  know  exactly  what  I  had  in 
mind.  Surely  you  are  pleased  with  me  ? — 

As  I  believe  I  may  look  towards  my  amnestying, 
which  will  make  it  possible  to  take  a  trip  to  Germany 
from  time  to  time — especially  in  the  winter  half-year — at 
first  I  merely  thought  of  procuring  ourselves  a  fixed 
summer  residence,  and  therefore  cast  my  eye  on 
Brunnen,  with  nothing  but  a  smaller  pied-a-terre  at 

*  Landlord  at  Brunnen— see  Life  vi,  157 — the  proposal,  evidently 
broached  in  a  letter  missing  from  this  series,  appears  to  have  been  for 
permanent  summer  quarters  at  that  spot ;  see  also  next  letter. — Tr. 

VOL.    I  19 


290 

Zurich.  However,  I  soon  reflected  how  disagreeable  it 
would  be  for  yourself  in  particular  to  go  through  a 
removal  once  a  year,  to  say  nothing  of  accompanying  me 
on  each  of  my  possible  trips  to  Germany  and  so  leaving 
the  house  and  our  domestic  pets  forlorn.  Wherefore  I 
tightened  my  hold  on  the  plan  of  obtaining  the  long- 
wished-for  estate  near  to  Zurich  itself,  where  everything 
could  remain  in  like  order  both  winter  and  summer,  and 
pursue  its  even  course  ;  till  at  last  I  have  hit  on  the  right 
way  of  procuring  the  money  in  the  most  honourable 
fashion,  and  I  am  sure  in  any  case  to  get  from  Hartels  as 
much  as  is  needful  for  the  purchase  and  erection — by  which 
I  mean  twenty  thousand  francs. — I  have  already  written 
Wesendonck  about  it  too. — As  I  am  detained  here  by  my 
cure,  and  cannot  be  back  before  the  middle  of  August,  I 
beg  you  to  pave  the  way  for  me  nicely  by  your  best 
enquiries  and  commissionings,  so  that — if  all  goes  well— 
the  building  may  be  commenced  the  beginning  of  Septem- 
ber, and  the  foundation-stone  laid  by  yourself  on  the  5th 
(your  birthday).  That  shall  be  your  birthday-present  this 
time  !— 

Only  let  us  come  to  a  thorough  understanding  about  the 
situation  of  the  property.  The  closer  to  town,  the  better 
I  shall  like  it,  and — the  harder  will  it  also  be  to  find  to  suit. 
As  I  wrote  you  previously,  I  don't  set  much  on  an  exten- 
sive view  :  one  gets  that  on  one's  walks  ;  but  I  set  every- 
thing on  a  quiet,  un-cooped  situation,  with  big  trees  :  and 
we  probably  shall  find  the  latter  in  particular  only  at  some 
distance  from  the  city.  Don't  be  afraid  of  that,  however, 
but  overcome  your  timidness  for  my  sake  ;  for  your  com- 
fort I  draw  your  notice  to  the  following  : — Sooner  or 
later  I  shall  invest  in  a  horse  and  carriage  :  when  I  have 
no  more  rent  to  pay — which  stands  in  prospect- — I  can 


ZURICH    PERIOD  291 

apply  the  money  to  that  purpose  ;  meantime  the  new 
Zurich  droschkes,  with  which  one  could  make  a  contract, 
would  stand  us  in  good  stead.  In  any  case  we  shall 
engage  a  man :  I  have  considered  the  means,  and  we 
couldn't  possibly  do  without  one  ;  so  you'll  be  well  pro- 
tected, even  if  I  go  away  for  a  couple  of  weeks  in  the 
winter  and  you  don't  want  to  accompany  me.  Please 
don't  fear  solitude  :  /  love  it  beyond  measure  ;  and  then 
remember  the  company  you'll  always  be  having,  and  what 
occupation  the  fowls,  turkeys,  ducks,  etc.,  will  give  you 
even  in  the  winter  ;  so  that,  what  with  myself,  N.  (or 
another  feminine  companion),  a  maid  and  a  man,  big  dog 
and  little,  parrot  and  so  on,  you  are  sure  not  to  feel 
yourself  lonely.  For  my  own  part  I'm  looking  forward  to 
(hat  loneliness  as  if  to  Heaven,  and  after  every  little 
outing  full  of  toil  and  agitation,  I  shall  always  be  only 
too  glad  to  get  back  to  recover.— 

So,  do  your  business  well  !  I  am  most  eager  for  your 
reports,  and  to  know  if  you're  fortunate.  The  future 
architect  Alter  must  know  of  something.— 

Otherwise  I  am  doing  well  ;  my  cure  is  forging  ahead, 
and  every  week  I  feel  the  progress  toward  a  thorough 
restoration.  As  to  the  character  of  this  establishment,  I 
can  fully  explain  it  to  you  only  by  mouth  ;  but  take  my 
word  for  it,  I  had  no  notion  before  of  such  a  careful  treat- 
ment, or  one  that  so  completely  suited  me.  The  company 
isn't  large,  and  offers  no  temptation  at  all.  I  take  my 
dinner  at  the  general  table,  whither  Fips  always  accom- 
panies me :  make  your  mind  easy  about  it  ;  he  is  very 
popular,  and  unfortunately  gets  more  to  eat  than  I  like. 
For  the  rest,  I'm  living  very  comfortably,  and  you  would 
have  thought  yourself  in  Heaven,  compared  with  the 
Seelisberg ;  whatever  it  is,  it  isn't  such  a  band-box. 


292  RICHARD    TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

However,  since  your  indisposition  was  merely  transitory, 
as  you  declare,  I  can  find  no  fault  with  you  for  having 
returned  home,  where  you'll  be  able  to  do  good  service  to 
our  plan,  and  whither  I  shall  return  direct  myself,  by  the 
shortest  route,  on  the  completion  of  my  cure.  — So  farewell, 
good  old  girl,  soon  to  be  landed  proprietress  !  Keep  well, 
and  good  to  me.— 

Liszt   has   written   me   very  amiably.      Touching  my 
Pardon,  he  earnestly  begs  me  to  let  no  one  hear  anything  of 
it,  though  he  firmly  hopes  I  may  be  able  to  visit  him  so 
early  as  this  winter.      A  general  amnesty  is  in  preparation, 
it  appears.      Liszt  comes  the  end  of  September.— 

For  3  performances  Berlin  has  brought  me  in  900  fr. 
again,  which  I  have  had  despatched  to  Sulzer.— 

You  say  nothing  at  all  about  that  charming  Dr. 
Burkhart  ?  (Eh  !  Eh  !) 

110. 

MORNEX,  26.  July  1856. 

GOOD  DAY,  SILLY  WOMAN  ! 
(I  meant  to  say  : — 

Prodigiously  good,  sage  Minna  !) 

You  got  your  dressing  yesterday  :  *  to-day  I  merely 
add  a  little  further  information  about  myself. 

First  of  all,  though,  I  beg  you  to  go  at  once  to  Heim, 
and  ask  him  to  be  so  good  as  to  reclaim  his  letter  to  me 
from  the  Post,  as  I  haven't  accepted  it.  The  matter 
stands  thus  :— 

Heim  did  not  address  "  poste  restante  a  Geneve"  but 
a  Mornex  pr^s  Geneve. 

Now,  as  Mornex  lies  in  Savoy,  the  Zurich  people  put 
the  letter  in  the  Savoy  mail,  which  in  the  first  place  costs 

*  A  missing  letter  ? — Tr. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  293 

40  centimes  single  weight,  whereas  it  was  only  franked 
with  20  cent.  ;  then  they  had  reckoned  the  weight  at  4 
times,  and  charged  me  two  francs — including  messenger  ; 
besides  which,  the  letter  took  2  days  longer.  The  same 
thing  happened  to  me  before  with  a  letter  of  Wesendonck's, 
for  which,  however,  they  only  asked  one  fr.  So  I  thought 
I  must  put  a  stop  to  this  palpable  knavery,  and  as  there 
could  be  nothing  pressing  or  particularly  important  in 
Heim's  communications,  much  as  I  enjoy  them,  I  deter- 
mined to  let  our  friend  know,  that  he  might  expose  this 
swindle  at  the  Post  and  relieve  me  of  similar  trouble  in 
future.  He  mustn't  take  it  ill  of  me  ;  I  really  only  did  it 
to  lend  no  further  countenance  to  such  abominable  extor- 
tion. Will  Heim  be  so  good,  accordingly,  as  to  re-address 
his  letter,  and  simply  : 

^  paste  rest  ante,  No.    in 

a   Geneve" 
(as  you  do  quite  correctly) — 

For  that  matter,  I'm  looking  forward  to  his  letter  so 
much,  that  I  almost  regret  sending  it  back.  Kindest 
regards  to  him  and  his  wife  ! — 

Well,  I  am  curious  to  hear  if  you  have  received  my  last 
letter  to  Seelisberg  yet.  For  the  rest,  I  of  course  shall 
have  a  deal  to  tell  you  of  my  cure,  but  it  is  so  disagreeable 
to  me  to  write  about  it  that  I  broke  off  a  letter  recently 
commenced  to  Dr  R.,  and  must  beg  you  to  give  him  the 
assurance  that  I  hope  to  satisfy  him  thoroughly  on  my 
return,  and  receive  his  pardon  for  apparent  disobedience. 
I  know  R.  wasn't  pleased  with  my  refusing  in  advance  to 
go  through  a  regular  cure  at  a  Kurhaus  or  pension  ;  had 
I  declared  myself  willing,  and  had  he  known  all  about 
Dr  Vaillant  and  his  institute,  I  am  firmly  convinced  he 


294  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

would  have  had  nothing  against  it  if  I  had  expressed  a 
wish  to  take  my  cure  there.  As  it  turned  out,  however, 
I  felt  that  without  the  daily  supervision  of  a  doctor  I 
couldn't  even  carry  out  R.'s  orders  with  advantage  ;  and 
this  conviction  was  so  strong  that,  after  Vaillant  had 
inspired  me  with  perfect  confidence,  I  resolved  on  the 
heavy  sacrifice  of  starting  a  strict  cure  at  a  pension  and 
willingly  enduring  all  its  inconveniences,  such  as  total 
abstention  from  work,  forced  contact  with  often  disagree- 
able company,  and  so  on.  As  for  the  character  of  my 
cure,  tell  Dr  R.  simply  this  :  Dr  Coindet,  to  whom  he 
recommended  me  himself,  is  in  complete  agreement  with 
it,  and  only  begged  me  to  hold  out  and  remain  under 
Vaillant' s  treatment  as  long  as  possible.  The  result, 
though,  as  I  firmly  expect,  will  be  the  thing's  best 
advocate.  The  functions  of  my  skin  are  already  so  well 
regulated,  that  a  recurrence  of  the  Roses  is  no  longer  to 
be  dreamt  of ;  my  abdominal  complaints  are  gradually 
decamping,  and  I  look  for  perfect  healing  of  my 
hsemorrhoidal  ill.  Added  to  which,  my  nerves  are 
quieting  down  to  the  best  of  my  wish,  so  that  I  can 
count  with  certainty  already  on  at  least  six  hours  of 
unbroken  sleep  each  night.  Consequently,  I  believe  I 
haven't  spent  my  time  in  vain  here,  and  don't  repent  the 
sacrifice  entailed.  But  it  is  a  sacrifice,  and  please  don't 
think  I'm  dawdling  here  for  my  amusement.  I  must  keep 
to  it  for  three  weeks  longer  :  I  began  the  i6th  June,  and 
shall  have  my  final  cure-day  the  i6th  August  ;  I've  pro- 
mised Vaillant  that,  in  return  for  which  lie  gave  his  word 
to  set  me  up  complete!}'  in  that  time.— 

Accordingly  I  shall  return  to  Zurich  the  i9th,  at  latest 
the  20th  August  ;  I  shan't  break  my  journey  anywhere, 
save  for  a  day  at  Karl's.  On  your  side,  dear  Minna,  see 


ZURICH    PERIOD  295 

that  I  find  everything  ready  by  then  to  proceed  to  our 
house-building  :  you  can't  do  much  in  it  alone,  beyond  just 
giving  orders;  and  if  Alter  isn't  competent,  please  make 
further  enquiries  as  to  who  accepts  commissions  of  that 
kind.  On  the  other  hand,  spare  yourself  too  much 
running  about  in  search  of  estates  ;  it  only  tires  you,  and 
you  will  not  find  any.  Whatever  is  referred  to  you,  how- 
ever, inspect  it  yourself,  and  use  the  new  droschkes  to  do 
so.  Manage  in  this  way  that,  when  I  return,  I  shall  have 
nothing  to  do  but  decide  ;  on  my  side  I  shall  see  to  the 
needful  money  lying  ready  then.  Thus,  we  shall  share 
the  toil  between  us.— 

Adieu,  dear  old  girl,  for  to-day.  Remain  in  such 
good  health,  and  forbid  them  to  wake  you  next  time. 
Fips  is  first-class,  and  we  both  are  looking  forward  to 
kind  faces  in  the  Escherhauser. 

T[hy]  RICHARD. 

111. 

MORNEX,    2.    AugUSt    1856. 

Your  most  obedient  Servant,  Madame  Wagner  ! 

So,  a  fortnight  from  to-day  I  leave  here,  and  shall  be 
a  sound  Monsieur.— 

Karl  and  his  wife  came  to  see  me  on  Wednesday  ;  we 
took  a  donkey -ride  up  Mont  Saleve,  which  I  originally 
had  saved  for  your  arrival  here  ;  next  morning  they 
went  back,  after  breakfasting  with  me  in  my  room  after 
•my  fashion,  when  I  brewed  the  tea  myself.  On  my 
journey  home,  as  said,  I  shall  pay  them  a  day's  visit,  and 
then  we're  to  eat  cakes. — 

I  have  nothing  against  Klare's  and  Mathilde's 
[Frl.  Schiffner's]  visit  ;  only  I  should  have  thought  that 
Klare,  who  cannot  well  repeat  the  visit  for  some  time, 


296  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

would  have  found  herself  better  off  with  us  next  year. 
It  suits  me  thoroughly,  however,  to  go  on  lollopping 
awhile  at  first  on  my  return  ;  only  it  mustn't  cost  me 
much  more  money,  I  may  tell  you,  for  I  have  the  less 
idea  how  my  exchequer  will  hold  out  this  time,  as  it 
naturally  has  been  drained  already  through  my  very  ex- 
pensive cure  ;  for  your  health  it  would  have  been  another 
matter.  However,  we  shall  see. — I  expect  you'll  have 
made  some  tidy  savings  during  my  absence — presumably  (?) 
hm  !  hm  !— 

That  good  Franz  Miiller  also  will  come  from  Weimar 
about  the  same  time  ;  but  I  shall  be  glad  if  Liszt  doesn't 
come  till  mid-September,  as  I  begged  him,  for  during 
his  visit  I  am  sure  to  have  a  lot  of  excitement,  which 
wouldn't  be  good  for  me  so  soon  after  the  cure. — 

Semper  can't  be  quite  so  wrong  regarding  Tichatscheck  ; 
of  sheer  thoughtlessness — certainly  not  from  ///  will — he 
is  certain  to  have  damaged  Semper.  For  he  [T.  ]  resorts 
daily  to  a  certain  club  which  includes  two  police- 
councillors  among  its  members,  as  he  told  me  himself — one 
of  them  a  regular  chieftain.  Naturally  Tichatscheck  and 
his  like  do  not  remark  that  they  are  being  spied  on  by 
these  gentry  ;  in  his  simplicity  he  will  have  told  the 
story  of  that  evening,  without  knowing  what  he  was 
doing — and  perhaps  he  doesn't  know  even  yet  that  it 
was  he  who  blackened  Semper.  Thus  children  often 
do  one  just  as  much  harm  as  actual  rogues.  Please  pass 
on  this  guess  of  mine  to  Semper,  and  give  him  my 
best  regards.— 

For  the  rest.  I  naturally  have  nothing  more  to  report 
to  you  from  my  monotonous  cure-life,  beyond  the  assur- 
ance that  I  shall  not  get  the  Rose  again. — The  Heim 
letter  affair  is  annoying  enough  to  me,  but  there  was 


ZURICH    PERIOD  297 

no  other  means  of  obviating  similar  cases  ;  all  one  should 
do,  is  to  reclaim  the  letter  at  Zurich  and  demand  an 
explanation  of  such  swindles.— 

Now,    God    the    all-bountiful    shield    you  !     Fips   is 
blooming  like  a  cabbage-rose  ;   both  of  us  greet  you 
most  respectfully  and  humbly. 

I  am  curious  to  know  when  you  will  have  even 
a  commencement  of  explorations  for  the  plot  of  ground 
to  report  to  me  ;  you  should  have  been  able  to  send  to 
Alter  long  ago.— 

An  enquiry  from  Vienna  about  Tannhauser.— 

To-day  I  combed  and  flecked  Fips  single-handed  ;  he 
had  something  like  a  dozen. — 

112. 

MORNEX,    5.    Allg.    1856. 

Very  good,  Mietzel,  I  won't  be  stubborn  ! — So  put 
on  your  best  clothes  at  once,  and  pay  a  call  on  Frau 
Bodmer-Stockar.  Tell  her  you  would  like  to  know  if 
she  believes  I  should  have  any  success  if  I  wrote  to  her 
husband  about  the  estate  I  have  in  mind  :  she  is  pretty 
sure  to  know  if  there  is  any  possibility  of  their  giving  the 
Triimplers  notice.  What  I  should  propose,  would  be 
to  take  this  property  on  a  life  lease — or  for  10  years — to 
do  up  the  interior  and  make  it  comfortable  for  winter. 
Tell  her  how  much  I  need  to  live  in  solitude,  and  that  I 
meant  to  go  away  from  Zurich  at  last  if  I  couldn't  find 
anything  suitable.  In  short,  do  all  you  can  to  get 
a  favourable  decision  from  the  lady — who  appears  to  me 
the  leading  person.  All  else  shall  then  depend  on  it, 
and  in  a  favourable  event  I  shall  be  quite  content  to 
satisfy  my  need  in  /his  way,  by  which  I  should  get  what 
I  want  for  less  monev. 


298 

So  play  your  part  well,  and  tell  me  the  result  at  once. 
Indeed  I've  nothing  more  to  tell  you,  excepting  that 
it's  9  o'clock  at  night,  and  I  am  soon  going  to  bed. 

A  fortnight  from  to-day  we  shall  be  hammering  away 
again ! 

Adio,  car  a  arnica  ! 

II  tuo 

Riiicardo. 
Am  I  not  lamb-like  ? 

113. 

MORNEX,  Monday,  11.  August  1856. 

MY  SPOUSE, 

So,  a  week  from  tomorrow  I  shall  reach  you 
again.  On  the  Monday  I  still  have  a  rendezvous  with 
the  Wesendoncks  at  Berne,  for  which  he  pressed  me, 
as  I  had  declared  I  couldn't  visit  them  at  Thun.—  Will 
Klare  really  have  arrived  by  then  ? 

My  God,  I  have  nothing  at  all  to  write  you  of  my 
terribly  monotonous  life  here  ;  I'm  at  the  end  of  the  cure 
now,  and  merely  have  still  to  recover  from  the  exhausting 
treatment  in  its  middle  :  by  mouth  on  all  that.  I 
now  enjoy  good  sleep  and  an  agreeable  calming  of  my 
whole  nervous  system  ;  I've  no  more  terror  of  the  Rose, 
as  I  have  my  health  completely  in  my  hands  now,  and 
simply  need  to  live  accordingly,  to  be  secure  against 
relapses.— 

By  chance  I  knew  all  of  your  news,  even  the  story 
of  Bohland's  going  mad  in  Dresden.  I  have  my  sources, 
you  see  !  Many  thanks  for  the  Illustrirte,  though  I 
could  have  dispensed  with  that  also  now  ;  lyord  knows, 
I've  grown  entirely  indifferent  to  everything  that's  going 
on. — On  the  other  hand  I  have  to  inform  you  that 
H artels'  definitive  answer  arrived  to-day  ;  it  confirms  all 


ZURICH    PERIOD  299 

my  hopes,  and  through  the  contract  soon  to  be  concluded 
I  am  placed  in  the  position  to  proceed  to  the  execution 
of  my  project  without  any  fear,  as  I  shall  obtain  all 
needful  means  for  it  thereby.  I  must  admit  I  have 
gained  great  respect  for  Hartels.*  I  am  to  receive  from 
them  fifteen  thousand  francs  cash  in  3  instalments,  and  the 
interest  on  another  fifteen  thousand  francs  throughout  my 
life  and  yours  ;  so  that  I  have  30,000  frc.  at  my  dis- 
posal, which  ought  to  suffice,  I  imagine,  if  the  property 
were  sought  and  found  a  little  farther  from  Zurich — not 
quite  in  the  immediate  vicinity  (where  it  certainly  is  dear 
—indeed  impossible).— 

Nevertheless  I  honestly  hope  the  Bodmer  business  may 
come  off ;  if  I  can  get  a  life-lease  of  their  property,  one 
could  fit  it  up  quite  nicely  for  oneself,  and  we  really 
have  no  use  for  a  hereditament.  So  do  your  share  ;  I 
shall  write  Frau  Wesendonck  this  very  day,  and  follow 
your  advice.  But  time  presses  ;  the  season  is  already 
advanced,  and  I  should  like  to  know  where  I  am,  not 
to  lose  the  chance  of  being  able  to  work  away  in  the 
quiet  of  a  pleasant  home  next  summer.— 

So  you  see  I'm  doing  all  I  can,  and  have  already 
succeeded  in  drawing  money  from  my  \vork  ;  rejoice  me 
in  exchange  with  thoroughly  good  news  on  my  return. 

Fare  excellently  well  !  If  you  write  me  once  more 
by  return  (assuming  that  to  be  Thursday)  the  letter  will 
still  catch  me  at  Geneva.  Adieu,  dearest  old  woman  ! 

Thy  R. 

Pvc  flecked  Fips  again  to-day  ! 


*  Nevertheless  the  entire  arrangement  (re  the  whole  Ring,  of  course) 
fell  through  in  less  than  three  \veeks,  lor  Otto  Wesendonck  is  informed  at 
the  end  of  the  month  that  this  "  all  but  instant  certainty  is  foiled  once 
more  "  ;  see  Life  vi,  146  et  seq. — Tr. 


300  RICHARD   TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

114. 

MORNEX,    13.    August    1836. 

DEAREST  Muzius, 

Really  you  are  very  wooden  people,  all  of  you  ; 
you  cannot  even  start  a  thing  without  me.  Surely  Herr 
Dr  R.  might  have  had  a  talk  with  Frau  Trtimpler  in 
the  first  place  ;  others  can  often  speak  up  for  one  with 
more  importunacy  than  oneself.  But  all  these  people 
seem  to  have  a  dread  of  one  another  ! — So  I  shall  have 
to  go  begging  from  Pontius  to  Pilate  again,  and  that 
means  a  loss  of  time.  Can't  you  get  introduced  to 
Frau  Triimpler  by  Heim,  then — or  Dr  R.  ?  You  could 
speak  better  in  my  interest  yourself,  than  I. — Not  one 
of  you  can  do  anything — isn't  that  true  ? 

It  is  awful  to  me,  to  hear  that  you've  had  to  take 
opium  again  ;  it's  to  be  hoped  you  will  listen  to  reason, 
and  let  yourself  be  supplied  with  rest  and  sleep  by  me  for 
once,  which  I  promise  you  if  you  only  will  follow  my 
orders  a  bit. 

For  the  rest,  I'm  waiting  for  the  day  of  my 
departure  now  with  great  impatience  ;  probably  I  shall 
not  write  you  again,  unless  anything  very  important  should 
happen  unforeseen.  I  expect  to  arrive  from  Berne  on 
Tuesday  morning  by  the  Baden  train,  as  I  prefer  travel- 
ling at  night  in  this  heat. — Please  do  not  have  my  bath- 
tub filled  with  water,  but  leave  it  empty  in  the  alcove  : 
I  shall  only  use  it  to  do  my  washings  in.  But  go  at 
once  to  the  Post  and  tell  them  to  send  on  no  more  letters 
here  from  Friday  morning  onward,  but  to  give  them 
to  the  postman.  True,  I  wrote  to  the  bureau  yesterday, 
myself,  but  it  will  be  as  well  for  you  to  ascertain  if  they 
duly  received  that  letter. 

Now    let  me   hope    for   a    kindly  reunion  ;     I   expect 


ZURICH    PERIOD  301 

you'll  be  satisfied  with  me  and  my  health.  What  I  have 
lost  by  the  sweating,  Fips  has  picked  up,  so  that  you  can 
abide  by  him  if  I  don't  please  you.  If  you  want  a  few 
good  nights'  sleep  ere  my  arrival,  carefully  follow  the 
advice  I  have  given  you  ;  but  of  course  you  don't  appear 
to  think  of  it,  and  would  rather  take  that  curs,  opium. 
At  the  least  take  a  couple  of  cold  foot-baths. 

Adieu,  bad  woman  who  gives  me  so  much  anxiety  ! 
To  a  speedy  good  Wiedersehen  ! 

Thy  R. 

[Between  this  and  the  next  group  of  letters  husband  and  wife  do  not 
appear  to  have  been  parted  even  for  twenty-four  hours ;  in  the  meantime 
the  famous  "  Asyl"  had  been  acquired  at  Enge,  a  suburb  of  Zurich,  and 
entered  in  tlie  spring  of  \  857,  the  Wesendoncks  taking  possession  of  their 
adjoining  "  Villa  "  the  ensuing  August.— 7V.] 

115. 

PARIS,  17.  January  1858. 

DEAREST  MINNA, 

You  gave  me  a  miserable  night  with  your  unlucky 
Hotel  de  Lyon,  which  had  another  landlord  8  years  back, 
and  appears  to  have  come  down  in  the  world  since.  I 
arrived  at  ^  past  n,  and  hunted  out  a  passable  room  for 
3  francs  at  last  :  when  I  examined  it  closer,  the  door  gaped 
half  an  inch  ;  the  chimney  smoked.  Very  good  :  finally 
I  get  to  bed,  and  the  rattle  of  traffic  literally  doesn't  cease 
the  whole  night  ;  stupid  fool  that  I  am,  I  hadn't  reflected 
that  this  is  the  noisiest  spot  in  all  Paris,  immediately  off 
the  Rue  Richelieu.  I  scarcely  closed  my  eyes,  and  the 
first  thing  in  the  morning  I  went  to  the  new  big  Hotel  du 
Louvre,  where  I  simply  asked  for  a  quietly  situated  room 
at  3  francs.  I  was  given  one  on  the  3rd  floor  at  once, 
looking  on  to  the  courtyards  ;  small,  but  everything  very 
clean  and  solid  ;  a  large  fauteuil,  even  though  no  sofa. 
No  din  of  traffic,  since  the  adjoining  Rite  Rivoli  is  not 


302  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

paved  ;  in  short,  just  what  I  want.  Every  visitor  to  Paris 
should  go  to  the  Hotel  du  Louvre ;  you  simply  ask  for 
what  you  seek,  and  get  it,  from  the  most  sumptuous 
apartment  to  the  plainest  and  cheapest.  And  then  one 
isn't  gened  in  any  way  ;  if  one  likes,  one  can  dine  in  the 
hotel  restaurant  a  la  carte,  which  I  much  prefer  ;  I  can 
always  get  my  fish  and  veal-cutlet  there.  In  brief,  I  am 
glad  to  see  peaceful  nights  before  me  ;  also  I  have  no 
neighbours.— 

As  I  have  only  just  unpacked,  am  fearfully  tired,  and 
naturally  have  been  able  to  make  a  commencement  with 
nothing  as  yet,  I  really  shouldn't  have  thought  of  writing 
you  to-day  if  it  hadn't  been  for  the  address.  Kietz  met 
me  at  Epernay,  at  the  station  ;  he  can't  come  to  Paris  at 
present,  which  is  a  pity  for  me  and  seemed  to  cause  him 
great  regret.  He  entreated  me  by  all  that's  holy  to  spend 
a  day  with  him  and  Chandon  on  my  journey  home.— 

The  letter  from  yourself  and  Prager  *  I  fetched  from 
Kietz'  portiere  this  morning,  and  had  to  pay  16  sous  for 
it,  as  the  postage  was  insufficient,  and  it  had  been  treated 
as  unfranked.  Please  enquire  at  the  Post  exactly  what  a 
letter  costs  to  Paris  ;  it  goes  much  by  the  weight.  If  you 
come  by  any  money,  I  would  rather  you  franked  every 
time  till  I  have  some  ;  naturally  my  exchequer  isn't  at 
its  best.  From  Strassburg  itself,  however,  I  took  fresh 
steps  to  provide  us  with  money,  and  I  think  the  pinch 
will  soon  be  over.— 

Prager' s  letter  was  very  important  to  me  ;  it  gives 
me  useful  addresses,  and  saves  many  enquiries. — 

Now  I  must  write  to  Dresden  again,  to  prevent  their 
dawdling  with  the  despatch  of  my  operas.- — I  shall  make  a 

*  Meaning  a  letter  from  Prager  sent  on  by  Minna;  see  Life  vi,  332. 
-Tr. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  303 

start  with  iny  affairs  tomorrow,  and  shan't  write  you  again 
till  I  can  report  how  things  stand  and  when  I  may  hope 
to  depart.— 

I'm  delighted  you  have  slept  so  well  ;  only  continue 
going  to  bed  early,  as  soon  as  ever  sleep  comes  on.  Fips's 
not  eating  for  my  sake  shews  him  from  an  entirely  new 
side,  and  makes  his  character  doubly  precious  to  me. 
Shake  his  paw  !  Send  me  word  soon  that  you  have  re- 
ceived money  and  your  heart  is  beating  tranquilly.  Fare- 
well and  hold  me  thoroughly  dear— in  spite  of  all  the 
faults  and  turpitudes  I  have.  We  must  really  try  and 
pull  along  together  now  ;  and  at  bottom  things  are  going 
quite  passably,  even  though  I  unfortunately  have  more 
fame  than  money.  And  you  have  seen  for  yourself  now, 
that  it  isn't  the  ...  *  alone  :  all  the  securer  can  you 
feel  about  me.  The  embarrassment  on  account  of  my 
journey  really  has  preyed  on  my  mind,  and  indeed  I'm 
more  a  man  of  feeling  than  you  think  ! 

Now  keep  well,  and  soon  rejoice  me  with  good  tidings  ! 

Thy 

Address  :  RICHARD. 

Monsieur  Richard  Wagner 

Grand  Hotel  du  Louvre 

(No.  364)          a 

Paris. 

*  As  these  dots  exist  in  the  German  edition,  it  will  be  as  well  to 
reproduce  the  whole  enigmatic  and  idiomatic  context  :  "  Wir  mussen's 
nun  doch  miteinander  vollends  durchmachen  ;  und  im  Grunde  genommen 
geht  esjetzt  doch  ganz  passabel,  wenn  ich  leiderauch  mehr  Ruhm  als  Geld 
habe.  L'nd  dass  es  die  .  .  .  nicht  allein  macht,  hast  Du  nun  auch 
gesehen  :  desto  sicherer  kannst  Du  iiber  mich  sein.  Mir  stak  wirklich 
die  Beklommenheit  wegen  der  Abreise  in  den  Gliedern,  und  ich  bin  eben 
mehr  Gemuthsmensch  als  Du  glaubst  !  "  Under  the  circumstances,  with 
almost  every  word  presenting  ambiguities  to  the  outsider,  any  translation 
can  only  be  tentative. — Tr. 


304  RICHARD    TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

116. 

PARIS,  21.  January  1858. 

MY  GOOD  MINNA, 

I  fancy  you  will  prefer  my  writing  you  something 
in  brief  at  once,  to  my  waiting  to  write  at  greater  length 
tomorrow,  when  I  shouldn't  have  much  more  to  tell  you 
either.  For  your  letter  only  reached  me  close  on  3  o'clock, 
and  if  I  am  to  get  my  answer  off  by  post-time,  I  can't  be 
long  about  it.— 

Matters  stand  in  this  way,  that  I  expect  to  be  able  to 
go  back  the  end  of  next  week  for  certain  ;  but  I  fancy  I 
shall  have  completely  attained  my  aim  then,  and  better 
than  I  could  have  hoped,  in  spite  of  several  misadventures 
now  detaining  me. 

My  Mr  Amat,  to  wit,  had  gone  away  the  very  night 
of  my  arrival,  to  give  concerts  in  the  provinces,  and  isn't 
expected  back  before  next  week.  His  wife  gave  me  very 
good  information,  though,  and — as  it  seems  highly  pro- 
bable that  my  Tannhauser  will  be  taken  up  in  earnest 
here  sooner  or  later — it  is  becoming  certain  that,  together 
with  the  declaration  of  my  copyright  in  the  pianoforte 
scores  etc.,  I  shall  also  be  able  to  secure  myself  the  sole 
right  of  performance.  And  the  latter  really  is  of  great 
importance  ;  for,  not  only  will  it  place  me  in  the  position 
to  prevent  any  performance  I  do  not  approve  of,  but,  if 
it  does  come  off  at  the  Grand  Opera,  I  shall  also  be  able  to 
demand  full  author's  rights  with  tantieme  etc.,  which 
should  amount  under  circumstances  to  something  decent. 
With  Mr  dc  Cliarnal — the  translator,  at  whose  house  I 
am  to  cline  to-day,  and  who  is  plaguing  me  to  co-operate 
with  him  in  a  new  opera  for  the  Theatre  lyriqiie  (the  ass  !) 
—I  have  agreed  to  make  no  further  present  enquiries  of 
the  management  of  that  theatre,  but  quietly  to  register 


ZURICH    PERIOD  305 

my  declaration  of  copyright  ;  which  will  then  give  me 
the  right  to  lodge  a  valid  protest  even  on  the  day  of  an 
intended  first  performance.  My  strict  concern  accordingly 
consists  for  this  time  in  acquiring  that  right,  and  en- 
trusting someone  with  authority  based  thereon  to  prevent 
any  such  performance  ;  and  Amat  will  do  quite  well  for 
that,  as  it  will  be  to  his  own  advantage  in  course  of  time. 
So  I  must  wait  not  only  for  this  person's  return,  but  also 
for  arrival  of  the  copies  of  my  operas  from  Dresden,  for 
which  I've  written  pressingly  once  more  ;  with  the  end  of 
next  week  I  hope  to  have  them  both  behind  me. — By  the 
way,  this  business  will  bring  me  into  contact  with  the 
Saxon  ambassador,  who  is  needed  for  it  ;  which  should 
afford  me  much  amusement.  — 

Surely  you  must  have  received  the  small  sum  from 
Berlin  by  now  ?  My  having  left  you  so  in  the  lurch 
gives  me  more  anxiety  than  you  believe.  It  is  to  be 
hoped  the  Vienna  affair  will  be  also  put  straight  now. 
Liszt  writes  me,  he'll  send  me  some  money  in  a  few  days  ; 
in  any  case  I  shall  send  you  some  of  that,  as  I  already 
know  how  to  help  myself  here  at  a  pinch.  Hartels 
certainly  make  me  a  very  different  counter-offer  [for 
Trisfa/t] — -only  the  half  of  my  demand  (400  louis  d'or) 
down,  the  other  half  from  profits  later.  However,  I  shall 
have  to  agree  to  it  (for  they  advance  really  plausible 
grounds),  and  am  certain  thus  to  get  100  louis  from  them 
at  Easter  (even  if  not  sooner).  Moreover,  I  have  been 
hawking  the  Ricnzi  like  sour  beer  (Hanover,  Frankfort, 
Breslau),  urging  its  prompt  production  and  consequently 
also  a  prompt  remittance  of  the  fees.  If  only  some  of 
this  comes  off,  we  shall  be  all  right,  and  then — just  let 
me  look  ahead  !  The  thing  shall  not  repeat  itself  so 
soon. — 

VOL.   I  20 


306  RICHARD    TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

I  have  written  to  England  at  once,  and  set  forth 
every  ground  for  my  excuse  ;  also  begged — in  case  of 
confusion  arising — to  excuse  me  to  Prince  Albert  \yid. 
inf.]  These  Zurich  Post  officials  (may  Sulzer  forgive 
me  !)  are  really  utter  .  .  .  ! — 

Concerning  letters,  don* t  frank  them  at  all  in  future: 
the  fat  letter  cost  me  4-fold  postage — your  double  stamp 
being  too  little.  For  letters  to  France  have  to  be  terribly 
thin  (at  the  utmost  like  this  one),  and  if  they  are  not 
franked  sufficiently,  the  franco  isn't  counted  at  all,  but 
the  whole  postage  must  be  paid  again  (according  to  French 
rates).  Believe  me,  I  didn't  let  myself  be  taken  in  by 
any  portiere  :  that  is  so  ! — in  return  I  shan't  frank  my 
few  letters  to  you.— 

Liszt's  other  daughter  only  returns  from  Germany  also 

this  week  ;   her  husband  (Ollivier)   I   haven't  been  able  to 

catch  yet  (Paris  !)  ;   I  shall  call  on  him  tomorrow,  though. 

—Yesterday  I  dined  with  lyindemann  etc.  at  the  Taverne 

anglaise  (almost  nothing  but  fish  !)— 

I  am  writing  letters  nearly  all  day  long,  and  expect 
they'll  bear  fruit. 

—What  does  Eckert  [Vienna  dir.]  write  ? — 

Now,  God  be  with  you  for  to-day  !  After  dinner  I'm 
to  go  to  the  said  Theatre  lyrique  (but  not  Euryanthe!) 
with  Charnal  ! — Fare  wellest  of  well,  and  hold  as  dear  as 
you  can 

Thy  immensely  loving 

HUSBAND. 

The  Strassburg  incident  has  already  got  into  the  news- 
papers.— The  attentat  [Orsini]  has  not  affected  me  at  all  : 
make  your  mind  easy  about  it  ;  I  hear  nothing  of  it  what- 
ever.— 


ZURICH    PERIOD  307 

117. 

PARIS,  23.  January  1858. 

MY  POOR  Muzius, 

You  cannot  think  how  it  distresses  me  to  have  left 
you  in  such  straits  for  money  ;  so,  even  the  small  Berlin 
return  has  not  come  in  yet  ?  Really  it's  incredible  !  I 
wrote  to  Hoffmann  forthwith,  enclosing  the  letter  to 
Haslinger,  though,  as  it  is  the  latter  who  is  to  send  the 
money  at  once,  and — in  case  of  need — to  make  it  up  to  a 
round  looo/r.  Thus  you  will  receive  a  bill  of  exchange 
on  Paris,  which  you  must  sign  for  me — I  hope  it's  allowed 
—best  at  Schulthess  and  Rechberg's  ;  the  brother  of 
Squire  Wyss  is  there.  Perhaps  it  will  be  necessary  for 
you  to  beg  it  as  a  special  favour,  for  strictly  the  bill  ought 
to  be  signed  by  myself  (unfortunately  I  didn't  think  of 
that  yesterday).  In  the  worst  event,  I  shall  probably  be 
coining  back  at  the  same  time  myself,  or  shortly  after. 

To  go  on  with,  however,  I  send  you  at  once  what 
Liszt  has  sent  me  :  namely,  the  enclosed  500  fr.  He  was 
thoroughly  averse  to  demanding  the  fee  for  Rienzi  before 
its  production,  and  therefore  advances  me  on  it  for  the 
present  these  500  Jr.  from  his  own — as  he  says — very  empty 
pocket.  I  send  you  the  whole  of  this,  that  you  may 
have  something  in  hand  ;  for  my  own  part,  as  I  wouldn't 
rely  on  even  Liszt  alone  (quite  right  !),  I  provisionally 
borrowed  200  fr.  from  London,  off  Priiger,  which  I  only 
need  repay  at  my  convenience.  That  money  will  take 
me  back  to  Zurich.— 

Best  thanks  for  your  tidings.  Though  I  strictly  had 
no  further  intentions  here  than  what  you  know  of,  already 
something  more  might  come  of  it  perhaps.  Naturally  / 
am  hunting  no  Director,  but  must  lie  in  wait  for  their 
hunting  inc.  That  has  been  done  now,  under  the  rose, 


308  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

by  the  Director  of  the  Tliedtre  lyrique,  who — notified  by 
Charnal — had  me  invited  to  a  performance  at  his  theatre, 
and  begged  for  the  honour  of  presenting  himself  to  me. 
I  was  very  stand-off  towards  him  ;  he,  on  the  contrary, 
couldn't  contain  himself  for  civility.  I  don't  quite  know 
what  to  make  of  his  intentions  yet  regarding  Tannhiiuser, 
and  therefore  keep  silence  ;  but  thus  much  is  certain,  he 
wants  something  of  mine.  After  having  seen  his  theatre, 
under  circumstances  I  might  decide  to  give  him  the 
Rienzi — but  not  Tannhauser  ;  as  my  only  object  with 
the  affair  is  money,  I  am  cautious  myself.  There  are 
several  other  considerations  here  inclining  me  to  Rienzi 
as  my  first  opera  for  Paris,  all  of  which  I'll  tell  you  soon 
by  word  of  mouth  :  it  isn't  so  easy  to  ruin  as  Tannhauser, 
and  I  would  even  let  them  make  some  alterations  in  it  ; 
touching  that  fatal  dialogue  [however],  the  Grand  Duke 
of  Baden  would  have  to  use  his  influence  with  the  local 
Emperor,  and  get  him  to  give  special  commands  for 
permitting  an  exception.  For  an  opera  like  this  would 
be  regarded  by  the  theatre  in  question  as  a  decided  stroke 
of  luck,  and  I  should  only  give  my  consent  under  a 
contract  ensuring  the  most  unusual  exertions  and  the 
engagement  of  singers  who  thoroughly  pleased  me,  as  also 
and  finally,  under  guarantee  of  very  considerable  pecuniary 
advantages.  All  this  may  be,  dear  Minna,  and  is  quite 
possible  ;  but  do  not  pin  your  faith  to  it  just  yet. 

I  am  dining  at  Ollivier's  to-day,  who  has  received  me 
uncommonly  cordially  and  placed  his  services  as  advocate 
entirely  at  my  disposal.  He  is  a  personal  friend  of  Mons. 
Carvalho  (director  of  the  Lvrique},  and  has  offered  to  set 
everything  in  order  with  him  when  the  time  comes. 
That  is  really  something  like  !— 

In   that  wav  there  would  be  an   earlier  result   than   I 


ZURICH    PERIOD  309 

anticipated  here.  I  must  leave  the  directorate  of  the 
Grand  Opera  completely  on  one  side  for  the  moment ; 
Meyerbeer  still  has  influence  there,  and  no  doubt  that 
theatre  must  first  have  its  hand  forced  through  Rienzi's 
success  at  the  opera-house  of  second  rank.  But  then  it 
will  be  forced,  and  I  shall  be  able  to  lay  down  any 
condition  I  please  ;  nor  would  Rienzi  itself  be  lost 
entirely  for  the  Grand  Opera  later.— 

Now  don't  excite  yourself  too  much  ;  all  these  are 
merely  plans  as  yet,  but  their  possibility  reposes  on  the 
visibly  strong  desire  of  the  Theatre  lyriqne  to  have  an 
opera  of  mine.  Only  through  my  personal  presence  could 
such  openings  have  deen  descried  and  seized  ;  consequently 
I  have  no  reason  to  repent  any  sacrifice  incurred  for  this 
journey  even  already. 

The  above  was  the  chief  thing  ;  for  the  rest,  I  spend 
almost  the  whole  day  in  my  cubicle,  writing  letters  and 
reading.  May  my  small  remittance  of  to-day  set  you  up 
a  little  ;  and  forgive  the  stupid  fix  in  which  I  placed  you. 
Let  Miiller  only  wait  till  I  come  back,  or  for  the  Vienna 
money  to  arrive  ;  I  shall  write  him  in  a  day  or  two. 

So  the  best  farewell,  dearest  Minna  !  Salute  the 
household  for  me,  stay  good  to  me,  and  wish  plenty  of 
luck  to 

Thy 

truly  good 

HUSBAND. 

118. 

PARIS,  28.  January  1858. 
Grand  Hotel  die  Louvre 

(No.  365) 
Chere  Epousc, 

Comment  z'ous  portez-vous  f    Avez  vous  bien  dormi? 
Que  fait  votre  cceur  ?      Que  fait  Mr  Fipps  ?  et  Jacquot  f 


3io  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Ja  so  !  I  must  speak  German  now  !  I  should  have 
written  you  the  day  before  yesterday,  dear  Mutz,  had  I 
really  found  time  for  it.  In  the  first  place  I've  a  lot  of 
business  correspondence  still,  and  in  the  second  my 
engagements  here  are  ever  on  the  increase.  Even  to-day 
I  don't  propose  to  write  you  much,  though,  to  save  up 
for  us  both,  in  reality  this  time,  the  pleasure  of  having 
quite  a  deal  to  tell  by  mouth  ;  which  one  always  spoils 
through  too  great  circumstantiality  by  letter,  leaving  one 
strictly  nothing  more  to  say  when  one  gets  home.  Merely 
the  following  general  outline,  then,  to  give  you  some 
notion  of  the  character  of  my  present  stay. 

Neither  could  it  have  been  the  object  of  my  journey 
to  bring  anything  to  a  definite  conclusion,  nor  would  it 
have  been  possible  during  so  brief  a  stay.  Before  next 
winter,  too,  there  can  be  no  idea  of  a  production  of  any 
of  my  operas  here,  as  the  season  is  too  far  advanced 
already.  For  my  part  I  can  make  overtures  in  no 
direction,  but  must  wait  for  folk  to  come  to  me.  Well, 
the  director  of  the  TJiedtre  lyriqne  has  come  so  far  to  me 
already,  that — with  1000  bows  and  scrapings — he  has 
expressed  his  wish  and  hope  to  acquire  an  opera  from  me 
shortly,  and  to  visit  me  at  Zurich  with  that  aim. — Regard- 
ing the  Grand  Opera,  it  is  everyone's  opinion  that  the 
management  must  and  will  make  offers  to  me  soon.  I 
could  hardly  have  believed  how  much  they're  occupied  with 
me  in  Paris ;  certain  proof  of  which  I  have  received,  as  you 
shall  hear.  But  my  greatest  good  fortune  is  the  acquaintance 
and  friendship  of  Ollivier,  about  whom  I  shall  have  much 
to  narrate  to  you.  He  entirely  sides  with  Liszt,  and  has 
broken  with  the  d'Agoult  ;  he  is  a  most  delightful  man, 
and  eminent  in  many  respects.  For  the  present  only  this 
much  :  he  has  taken  to  me  in  a  way  that  makes  me  quite 


ZURICH    PERIOD  311 

secure.  Here  is  an  instance,  which  will  shew  you  at 
the  same  time  how  the  eyes  of  people  here  are  turned  on 
me.  The  evening  before  last,  on  my  going  to  dine  at 
Ollivier's,  he  informs  me  he  has  seen  a  poster  of  the 
Concerts  de  Paris  the  same  day,  on  which  the  first  Paris 
performance  (erroneous  !)  of  the  overture  to  Tannhauser 
was  announced  for  Friday  in  enormous  letters.  As,  if  I 
mean  to  guarantee  my  copyright  for  performances  also,  I 
must  make  even  a  concert  execution  of  the  overture 
depend  on  my  own  consent  (since  it  might  otherwise  be 
regarded  as  a  waiving  of  my  right,  and  lead  to  serious 
consequences  later),  here  I  have  to  take  an  immediate 
step.  So  Ollivier  at  once  dictated  me  a  letter  to  the 
director  of  those  concerts,  declaring  that  I  would  not 
frustrate  the  proposed  performance  of  my  overture  this 
time,  yet  should  only  permit  it  on  the  express  condition 
of  the  maintenance  of  my  rights,  of  which  such  permission 
must  involve  no  abandonment  ;  at  the  same  time,  more- 
over, that  a  rehearsal  of  my  overture  must  be  instituted 
in  my  presence,  to  convince  me  that  its  execution  will 
correspond  to  my  wishes. — Then  we  drove  off  to  an  avoue, 
a  friend  of  Ollivier's,  whom  the  latter  commissioned  to 
deliver  this  letter  to  the  director  in  due  legal  form  next 
morning.  And  to-day  I  have  received  the  politest 
invitation  to  give  myself  the  trouble  of  attending  a  special 
rehearsal  of  my  overture  at  i  o'clock. — Look  you,  thaf  s 
how  one  must  act  here  ;  Ollivier  knows  it,  and  is  very 
keen  on  it.  How  good  it  is,  once  more,  that  I  was  in 
Paris  myself  at  the  moment  !  All  this,  for  example,  would 
have  never  been  heeded,  and  my  rights  have  thus  been 
viewed  as  half  abandoned  in  advance  and  difficult  to 
re-establish.  Moreover,  as  people  are  so  impatient  for  my 
compositions  now,  an  inferior  performance  of  precisely 


312  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

this  overture  would  have  been  most  injurious  to  me  ; 
whereas  I  now  shall  have  it  in  my  power  to  bring  about 
the  best  result.  These  are  beginnings,  but  of  decisive 
weight.  After  the  performance  you  shall  learn  the  result. 
General  conclusion  : — fair  prospect  of  seeing  two  operas 
of  mine — Tannh.  (at  the  Grand  Opera)  and  Rienzi— 
produced  next  winter  at  full  tantiemes.  And  as  regards 
the  latter  point — the  receipts — -it's  something  quite 
stupendous  !— 

For  the  rest,    I  have  made    very  agreeable  acquaint- 
ances,   who    shew   me    Paris   from   a    side    I    never   knew 
before.      Last  Sunday — through  Ollivier — I  was  at  a  real 
Conservatoire  concert  for  the  first  time  in  my  life  ;   seated 
next  me  Mad.  Herold,  widow  of  the  composer  of  Zampa, 
such     a     pleasant,    charming,    genial    and     distinguished 
woman,  that  I  have  fallen  quite  in  love    with  her,    not- 
withstanding her  grey  hair  and  fifty  years.      We  spent  the 
evening  at  her  house,   among  her  children  and  acquaint- 
ances.     Last  autumn   Mad.    Herold  was  in   Vienna   with 
her  daughter  and  son-in-law,  on  their  honeymoon,  heard 
my  Tannhauser  there  (with  a  guest  named  Altkas  in  the 
title-role),    and  was  just  as  enraptured  with   the  freshness 
and  fire  of  the  performance,  as  she  was  revolted  by  the 
flabbiness  and  chill  of  the   Berlin  performance  she  heard 
thereafter.     This  really  was  news  to  me  ;  I  had  my  doubts, 
but  her  descriptions  and  her  serious  enthusiasm  convinced 
me  it  must  be  as  she  had  said.      So  I  wrote  next  day  to 
Hoffmann's    Kapellmeister,    told  him  what   I  had  heard, 
and  thanked   him.  —  I   made  other  notable  acquaintances 
there,  on  whom  by  mouth. 

Yesterday  I  also  drove  to  Madame  Hrard,  who  is 
living  at  Passy  in  a  princely  chateau.  She  and  Madame 
Spontini  (her  sister-in-law)  were  delighted  with  my  visit, 


ZURICH    PERIOD  313 

and — to  cut  the  story  short — my  first  Paris  receipt  this 
time  consists  in  the  present  Mad.  Erard  is  making  me  of  a 
grand  piano,  which  will  shortly  reach  the  Asyl  on  the 
Gabler.  In  return  I  have  begged  her  to  accept  the  dedi- 
cation of  my  first  opera  that  appears  in  Paris  ;  what 
do  you  say  to  it  ?  Perhaps — with  your  permission — I  shall 
have  to  bring  a  sacrifice  to  Mad.  Erard  ;  she  very  much 
wished  me  to  spend  an  evening  there,  and  (as  we  shall  be 
at  the  Herolds'  again  on  Sunday  evening,  with  Blandine 
— Ollivier's  wife — who  only  returns  from  Berlin  this  even- 
ing :  an  engagement  I  couldn't  well  refuse  Ollivier)  she 
has  appointed  Tuesday  next  week.  I  haven't  accepted 
yet,  but  after  her  costly  present  (it  is  catalogued  at  5000 /r.) 
I  think  I  ought  to  shew  her  that  attention  ;  in  which  case 
I  should  have  to  abandon  the  visit  to  Epernay.  For 
the  rest,  my  departure  hinges  on  the  expected  arrival  of 
the  Dresden  pianoforte-scores  of  my  operas,  with  which 
those  odious  people  still  are  lagging.  In  any  case,  however, 
I  irrevocably  fix  next  Wednesday  (i.e.  a  week  from  to-day) 
as  the  day  of  my  departure  ;  therefore,  as  I  mustn't  arrive 
on  a  Friday,  expect  me  midday  Saturday,  and  by  all 
means  invite  our  oyster-party  for  that  evening.  Then  I 
shall  either  spend  a  day  at  Epernay  after  all,  or  remain 
another  day  at  Strassburg,  where  I  have  half  promised 
to  call  on  the  conductor,  who  probably  would  like  to 
make  use  of  my  presence  for  his  benefit  concert.  In  any 
case  I  shouldn't  care  to  knock  myself  entirely  up  by 
travelling  day  and  night,  but  to  reach  home  nice  and 
fresh  ;  whither  I  indeed  am  strongly  drawn — particularly 
for  reason  of  my  extremely  pressing  work. 

My  health  really  had  somewhat  run  down,  the  long 
course  of  un-nutritious  diet  I  needed  has  been  a  great  drain 
on  me  in  the  end ;  I  am  fearfully  thin,  and  feel  rather  weak. 


314  RICHARD   TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Therefore  I'm  going  in  for  more  nourishing  food  now, 
which  on  the  other  hand  always  stirs  up  my  blood  troubles 
again  ;  so  that  poor  I  am  constantly  between  two  evils. 
I  am  bearing  up,  however,  and  strength  is  returning 
already  ;  so  have  no  anxiety.  The  surprising  weakness 
of  my  constitution  is  revealed  to  me  now  ;  never  before 
have  my  wants  been  so  small.  Well,  we'll  see  how  that 
turns  out  at  Wagners'.— 

For  the  reason  given  above  I  omit  any  further  account 
of  my  experiences  here,  merely  telling  you  that  I  shall 
call  on  Rossini  (if  only  for  his  physiognomy's  sake),  that 
Berlioz  read  his  operatic  subject  \_Troyens\  to  me  yester- 
day, etc.,  and  I'll  just  pass  on  to  our  immediate  affairs. 

How  the  devil  did  such  a  confounded  address  get  into 
your  head,  as  that  under  which  you  imagine  I  sent  my 
notes  to  England?  Anderson  —  Sydenhampalast  !  Stuff 
and  nonsense  !  the  address  was  : 

"  To  Her  most  gracious  Majesty 

The  Queen 

To  the  care  of  Buckingham  Pallace 

the  Hr  Cl  Phipps  London." 

Let  there  be  no  mistake  about  it — and  cause  no  fresh 
confusion. 

How  can  Spyri  be  so  idiotic  as  to  say  that  Tannhauser 
has  been  accepted  at  the  Grand  Opera  ?  That's  going  the 
round  of  all  the  German  papers  now,  looks  like  brag,  and 
will  draw  down  on  me  all  kinds  of  fooleries. 

Your  wonder  at  my  sending  you  some  money  really 
pains  me.  My  God,  for  whom  do  you  persist  in  taking 
me  ?  I  don't  deny  that  at  times,  and  under  circumstances, 
I  am  inclined  to  extravagance  ;  but  you  never  have  found 
me  indifferent  to  the  dilemmas  thence  arising  for  yourself ; 


ZURICH    PERIOD  315 

on  the  contrary,  my  one  sole  care  then  is  to  beat  up  money 
to  remove  your  difficulty,  which  I  now  am  attempting 
again  in  every  quarter.  I  have  no  answer  from  Frankfort 
and  Breslau  as  yet  (good  sign  !)  ;  from  Hanover,  where 
they  would  like  to  see  Rienzi  at  Dresden  first  (people  are 
a  little  distrustful  of  my  earlier  operas),  they  also  beg  me 
to  let  them  defer  it  awhile,  as  Armide  was  to  be  given 
next  :  at  any  rate,  then,  it  will  be  coining  off  shortly.  As 
soon  as  Rienzi  has  made  its  due  sensation  at  Dresden  and 
Weimar,  I  hope  to  be  able  to  put  this  opera's  vending 
in  commission,  against  the  deposit  of  an  advance  of  1000 
thaler  ;  toward  that,  too,  I've  already  taken  steps.  From 
Hartels  I  expect  to  be  able  to  draw  2000  fr.  the  end 
of  February.  So — just  a  little  patience  !  Meanwhile 
Vienna  will  help,  which  must  have  put  its  tribute  on  the 
road  by  now.  Next  month,  too,  probably  something 
more  from  Weimar.  For  the  present,  then,  please  lay  out 
the  500  /r. ,  and  pay  off  our  most  pressing  debts  with  it  ; 
I  shall  find  some  other  means  for  Midler,  I  promise  you.— 

There  now — you  have  a  proper  letter.  Possibly  I  shall 
not  arrive  at  writing  you  much  again  ;  I've  a  number 
of  business  and  other  letters  still  ahead,  whilst  the  nearer 
I  approach  to  my  return,  the  less  need  I  have  of  written 
communications.  But  you,  please  write  me  regularly  ; 
I'm  pretty  sure  to  remain  here  till  Wednesday,  so  you  can 
send  me  yet  another  letter  on  Monday.  I  have  changed 
my  room,  as  it  was  far  too  cold  and  had  no  sun  at  all — 
I  haven't  got  rid  of  my  cold  yet — so  no.  365  (exactly  the 
days  of  the  year). 

Farewell,    good,    charmante    old    girl  !       Salute     the 
animals,   and  remain  fond  of 

Thy 
feeble  old  RICHARD. 


3i6  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Afternoon.  They  fetched  me  to  the  rehearsal  before  I 
could  close  this  letter.  Lord,  what  a  good  father  I  am  ! 
This  overture  is  14  years  of  age  now,  and  yet  I  couldn't 
let  it  run  alone.  The  band  might  have  been  better,  and 
the  conductor,  who  had  no  full  score,  was  obliged  to  leave 
many  important  points  obscure  :  what  luck  that  I  was 
there  !  I  couldn't  stand  it  at  last,  and  placed  myself  at 
the  desk  for  two  hours'  drudgery.  The  orchestra  gave 
me  a  thundering  ovation — but  couldn't  satisfy  me  much. 
I  was  so  knocked  up  by  this  unexpected  fatigue,  that — all 
in  a  heat — I  had  a  closed  carriage  sent  for  quick,  to  take 
me  home.  Consequently  I  have  left  the  conductor  to 
finish  his  affair  alone  ;  let  us  hope  the  orchestra  and 
he  have  made  a  note  of  everything.  For  that  matter, 
don't  attach  too  much  weight  to  this  performance  ;  these 
concerts  aren't  of  much  account.  As  I  was  unable 
as  yet  to  prevent  the  performance,  at  least  it  was 
worth  while  making  it  as  good  as  possible  ;  and  that 
I've  done. — Now  farewell.  I  have  ordered  a  veal-cutlet 
and  bowl  of  Julienne  ;  then  I  must  be  off  to  Ollivier's 
again  ;  but  I  shall  go  to  bed  early  this  evening.  Wishing 
you  a  really  good  night  ! 

119. 

PARIS,    i.  February  1858. 

BEST  Muzius, 

I  have  to  create  a  confusion  again  ;  I  can't  get  home 
till  midday  Saturday — toward  2  o'clock.  It  was  impossible 
to  leave  the  kindness  of  Mad.  Erard  unrequited,  who  had 
firmly  reckoned  upon  me  for  Tuesday  ;  she  had  invited  a 
big  assembly  in  my  honour,  among  whom  Rossini  himself 
may  be  present.  So  it  will  be  late  at  night  before  one  gets 
home,  and  it  would  be  too  fatiguing  for  me  to  rise  at  6  in 


ZURICH    PERIOD  317 

the  morning  and  travel  all  night  again  (to  arrive  on 
Thursday).  Further,  Kietz  and  Chandon  have  pressingly 
begged  me  once  more  to  give  them  a  day  at  Kpernay  ; 
which  I  now  shall  do,  and  travel  home  quite  leisurely,  so 
as  not  to  arrive  on  a  Friday. 

I  am  bringing  money  too.  The  Vienna  people  sent 
the  looo/r.  bill  of  exchange  to  me  here,  after  all,  as  it 
was  drawn  upon  Paris  ;  it  doesn't  make  much  difference, 
and  saves  in  fact  a  trifling  loss. 

You  will  receive  no  further  news  from  me,  except 
perhaps  a  hast}'  confirmation  of  my  departure.  So  bespeak 
the  part}-  for  Saturday  evening  ;  I  shall  bring  the  oysters 
with  me,  and  thus  be  following  your  advice. 

I  had  hoped  for  another  letter  from  you  to-day  ;  you 
aren't  unwell  by  any  chance  ? 

Adieu,  good  old  Madame  !  Stay  good  to  me  till  then  ; 
when  you  can  reprove  me  again  if  I  behave  badly. 

To  the  very  finest  of  welcomes  ! 

Thy 

much-loved 
HUSBAND. 


months  after  Wagner's  return  to  Ziirich  Minna  intercepted  a 
letter  of  Ins  to  Fran  II  'csendonck,  leading  to  a  now  notorious  "  scene  "  be- 
tween the  two  women  —  see  Familienbriefe,  R.  Wagner  to  M.  Wesendonck, 
Life  vi,  etc.  —  immediately  after  which  occurrence  Minna  temporarily  de- 
parted for  a  nerve-cure  at  Brestcnberg  in  Aargau.  —  Ti  <:  > 


12O. 

ZURICH,  20.  April  1858. 

You  made  me  very  uneasy,  dear  Minna,  with  your 
silence.  I  telegraphed  about  it  yesterday  to  Herr  Dr 
Ktismanu,  prepaying  an  answer  ;  remarkable  to  say,  none 
has  reached  me,  and  I  mean  to  make  inquiry  into  it. 
Luckily  I  received  your  letter  in  the  afternoon,  however, 


3i8  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

and  that  relieved  my  mind.  Eh,  eh,  I  told  you  you'd 
experience  wonders  from  your  cure  ;  that  a  suppressed 
catarrh  came  out  at  once,  e.g.,  was  quite  in  order,  and  you 
may  simply  congratulate  yourself  upon  it.  Many  another 
thing  will  likewise  come  out,  that  has  only  been  repressed 
by  the  eternal  feverish  agitation  of  your  nerves,  but  on  the 
other  hand  so  sorely  aggravated  your  complaint  itself.  I 
could  never  prevent  your  exposing  yourself  to  a  chill  ;  you 
took  no  notice  of  the  consequences — but  they  were  partly 
to  blame  for  the  increase  of  your  illness. 

Well,  your  having  such  good  trust  [in  it]  gives  me 
the  most  hope  of  the  cure's  successful  issue.  Just  keep 
to  that,  and  so  give  me  the  relief  of  having  a  sound  and 
right  sensible  wife  again  soon.  1  know  I've  to  overlook 
much  in  you  for  the  state  to  which  your  ailment  has 
reduced  you  ;  so  may  everything  turn  for  the  best  !— 
I'll  hope  so  !— 

Now  keep  to  it,  think  of  nothing  but  your  health. 
Without  it  there's  no  hope  for  any  of  us  ! — 

Nothing  special  has  arrived  in  the  way  of  letters  ; 
what  pleased  me  most,  was  the  kind  reply  of  Dr  R., 
who  really  had  been  much  offended  :  I  enclose  this 
letter  for  your  heartening.  Nevertheless  the  old  gentle- 
man did  indeed  more  harm  than  help  you,  and  one  is 
really  too  considerate  towards  such  people.  But  we'll  let 
that  drop  for  this  once. — 

I  have  received  a  second  message  from  Erard's,  that 
the  piano  went  off  yesterday. — For  the  rest,  1  am  in 
no  particular  humour  yet,  as  you  may  easily  imagine  ; 
I  haven't  the  least  disposition  for  work.  Perhaps  I  there- 
fore shall  accept  Wille's  invitation  to  spend  a  couple  of 
days  with  them  ;  I  suppose  you'll  have  nothing  against 
it.  Perhaps  it  will  distract  me  a  little  ;  the  agitations 


ZURICH    PERIOD  319 

and  exertions  since    the   beginning  of  this   month   have 
been  a  shade  too  great,  you  know. 

As  I  haven't  otherwise  been  much  about  yet,  I  can 
only  tell  you  of  our  household  :  that  Friedrich  is  be- 
having exemplarily  and  doing  an  enormous  amount  in 
the  garden  ;  it  really  will  be  very  pretty.  Lisette  had 
to  get  cupped  yesterday.  Both  of  them  serve  me  very 
well,  and  accordingly  it's  quite  endurable  at  home  here. 

I  have  nothing  further  to  tell  you  concerning  ourselves  ; 
so  soon  as  anything  occurs,  you  shall  hear  of  it  at 
once.  Now  give  the  Herr  Doctor  my  hearty  regards,  and 
thank  him  most  profoundly  for  his  care.  For  yourself, 
dear  old  girl,  don't  be  slack  about  writing,  but  go  on 
sending  me  a  perfect  diary  of  your  treatment.  Only 
patience  and  courage  !  Everything  will  come  right,  for 
sure,  and  after  all  troubles  and  storms  a  peaceful, 
contented  old  age  will  appear  in  the  end  ! 

Farewell,  behave  yourself,  and  give  me  tranquillising 
news  as  frequently  as  possible. 

Thy 

good  RICHARD. 

121. 

ZURICH,  23.  April  1858. 

POOR  DEAR  MINNA, 

Once  more  I  cry  to  you,  repeating  it  a  thousand 
times :  Have  patience,  and  above  all  else,  have  trust ! 
If  you  knew  how  you  torture  me  with  your  want  of 
the  latter,  I  feel  sure  you  would  repent  it.  In  brief, 
when  you  assured  me  you  really  did  love  me,  I  adjured 
you  to  prove  it  me  by  forgoing  an>  encounter,  any 
arraignment  on  that  side,  at  least  until  after  your  cure  ; 
in  return  for  which  I  promised  you  to  fulfil  on  my  side 


320  RICHARD    TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

whatever  you  wished  for  your  pacifying.  But  the 
Tempter  mastered  you  a  second  time,  and  this  time 
you  openly  broke  your  love  and  faith  in  me.  I  forgive 
you  that,  to  begin  with,  for  the  awful  state  of  health 
which  made  you  almost  irresponsible  ;  and  more  :  I  for- 
give it  you  for  all  the  future.  But  I  now  implore  you, 
put  forth  all  your  strength  of  mind  henceforward  to 
preserve  unshaken  your  belief  in  my  sincere  and  lifelong 
sympathy,  my  heartfelt  wish  to  promote  your  welfare, 
my  steadfast  will  to  harbour  no  ulterior  hopes  whatever 
for  this  life.  If  you  are  unable  to  do  so,  you  will  make 
yourself  and  me  unhappy  !  I  should  have  no  need  of  this 
entreaty  if  you  had  yourself  had  so  much  mental  composure 
from  of  old  as  to  judge  me  justly,  and  in  particular  to 
form  a  clear  idea  of  that  relation  which  fills  you  with  idle 
fears,  as  I  perceive,  even  after  your  procuring  your- 
self full  satisfaction.  From  the  other  side  but  one 
reproach  has  been  addressed  to  me,  namely  that  I  had 
ever  omitted  to  make  the  purity  of  those  relations  clear 
to  you,  so  that  it  would  have  been  impossible  for  you 
so  to  insult  the  lady  concerned.  These  reproaches  were 
made  me  by  the  husband,  the  man  who,  admitted  from 
of  old  to  the  minutest  confidences  of  his  wife,  yet  could 
ever  bear  himself  with  nobleness  and  friendship  toward 
me,  just  because  he  was  convinced  of  the  purity  of  our 
relations.  The  only  excuse  I  could  offer  in  reply,  was 
that  I  held  it  a  sheer  impossibility  to  convince  yourself 
of  such  a  thing — and  that,  alas  !  in  spite  of  all  my 
declarations,  appears  to  be  intending  to  prove  true. — 

So  once  again,  and  for  the  last  time  (since  you  will 
destroy  yourself  if  you  continue  thus!) — have  trust! 
Forget  in  what  has  happened  whatever  seems  to  remain 
inexplicable  to  you  (such  as  my  familiar  expressions  in 


ZURICH    PERIOD  321 

that  letter) — and  cleave  alone  to  my  explanations  reiterated 
to  you  to-day  !  That  also  is  what  I  meant  by  wishing 
to  have  a  right  sensible  wife  in  you  soon,  which  I  hope 
you'll  take  amiss  of  me  no  longer.— 

For  that  matter,  I  may  simply  tell  you  that  I  was 
really  invited  to  Wesendonck's  again  last  Sunday  [i8th], 
and  quite  alone.  I  have  been  at  the  Willes'  two  days. 
Next  week  the  Wesendoncks  go  away  for  some  time.  I 
am  longing  for  my  work  again  at  last,  and  think  of 
resuming  it  tomorrow. — After  this  serious  and  truly  well- 
meant  letter,  I  have  nothing  further  of  importance  to 
communicate  to  you  to-day.— 

Your  S2ifferings  have  touched  and  thrilled  me  much 
again  ;  God  is  my  witness  how  honestly  and  sincerely 
I  wish  you  speedy  convalescence.  Persevere  !  Your 
illness  once  alleviated,  you'll  look  at  everything  again 
more  calmly,  and  recognise  that  the  causes  of  life's  suffer- 
ings do  not  only  lie  outside  us,  but  mostly  also  in  us. 

So,  good  recovery  ! 

We  soon  shall  meet  again  ! 
Thy 

faithful  Husband 

RICHARD. 

122. 

ZURICH,  Tuesday  27.  April  1858. 

This,  dear  Minna,  is  the  date  on  which  I've  determined 
to  get  myself  put,  not  in  a  hydropathic  institute,  but  in 
a  mad-house — for  that  now  seems  the  only  proper  place  for 
me  !  Whatever  I  say  or  write,  even  with  the  best  intention, 
I  stir  up  nothing  but  misfortune  and  misunderstanding. 
If  I  keep  silence  on  certain  things,  I  make  you  distrustful 
and  suspicious  that  I  want  to  circumvent  you  ;  then  if 
VOL.  I  21 


322  RICHARD   TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

I  write  seriously  and  openly,  and  at  trie  same  time 
thoroughly  composingly — as  I,  poor  ass,  believed — I  learn 
that  I  have  been  hatching  a  fiendish  plot  to  hurry  you 
under  the  turf !  In  the  same  breath  I'm  told  to  be  a 
man !  Good  :  not  a  man,  but  thy  man  I'll  be.  Tell 
me  exactly  how  I  am  to  speak,  think,  and  look  on  the 
things  of  this  world  :  I'll  shape  my  course  accordingly, 
and  say,  think  and  see  nothing  that  doesn't  suit  you  :— 
are  you  satisfied  ?  L,ay  down  for  me,  also,  what  and  how 
I'm  to  indite  and  compose  :  indeed  I  shall  conform  to  you 
in  everything,  that  you  no  longer  may  have  a  moment's 
doubt  about  me.  For  whatever  I  do  of  myself,  in 
my  own  way,  you  still  believe  it  doesn't  spring  from  me, 
but  from  someone  or  other  who  has  an  object  with  me. 
Very  good  :  that  shan't  occur  again  ;  I'll  look  to  left  or 
right  no  longer,  and  if  you  then  can  still  doubt  that 
I  live  for  no  one  but  yourself,  that  I  love  and  dote  upon 
you,  at  least  /shall  no  longer  be  answerable. 

God  knows  if  the  above  has  put  you  in  good  humour, 
as  my  object  was,  or  if  I  appear  to  you  the  refinement 
of  malice  afresh.  I'm  so  in  doubt  concerning  all  I 
say  or  do,  that  I  shall  shortly  get  carried  about  like 
a  child.  No  matter,  though,  if  only  you  will  bid  good- 
bye to  these  terrible  fancies,  and  recognise  that  at  least 
I  have  the  best,  most  honest  will  to  shew  myself  good  and 
grateful  to  you,  faithful  and  attached,  affectionate  and 
thoughtful.  Or  am  I  to  end  by  following  Sulzer's 
example,  before  he  married,  hating  "women"  in  the 
lump,  and  wishing  there  were  none  but  males  upon  this 
earth  ?— 

God  in  Heaven,  what  am  I  to  do  then,  to  make  you 
content  ? — 

Now    listen  !     Thursday    I  shall    write    you    exactly 


ZURICH    PERIOD  323 

when  you  are  to  fetch  me  from  the  station  Saturday  ; 
then  we'll  come  to  some  arrangement.  Meanwhile  abide 
by  the  best  you  can  think  of  me,  and  you  always  shall 
find  me  still  better. 

Nothing  has  occurred.  I  shall  bring  with  me  a 
letter  from  the  Furstin  to  yourself.  Its  intention  is 
good  ;  she  is  much  affected  by  the  description  I  gave  her 
of  your  state  of  health  and  mind. 

I  am  going  to  Wille's  with  Herwegh  to-day.  I  had 
really  repented  accepting,  as  I  wras  in  the  vein  for  work  ; 
but  your  letter  of  to-day  has  made  me  so  confused  again, 
that  the  distraction  will  come  in  just  right. — God  only 
grant  that  I'm  not  exciting  you  again  with  this  letter  ; 
I  literally  no  longer  know  what  I  am  doing  !  You 
extract  a  black  meaning  from  everything.  However,  we 
shall  see,  and  hope  for  the  best  when  your  mind  has 
somewhat  quieted  again. 

I'm  taking  terrible  walks  with  Fips,  e.g.  across 
Kilchberg,  Sihlwald  etc.,  yesterday.  He  eats  very  little  ; 
he  must  be  fretting.  He,  too,  will  be  highly  delighted 
to  see  you  again.  Moreover,  my  visits  may  become  much 
more  frequent  when  the  railway  is  opened  [the  whole 
way],  and  taking  all  in  all,  I  really  feel  as  if  the  worst 
were  got  over  in  every  direction.  In  truth  it  cannot  be 
but  things  must  mend  ;  if  they  continued  thus,  neither 
you  nor  I  could  stand  it. 

So,  on  Thursday  full  particulars  about  the  Wieder- 
sehen  !— 

Everything  that  is  best,  heartiest,  and  most  reassuring, 
as  greeting  from 

Thy 

age-worn 

HUSBAND. 


324  RICHARD    TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

123. 

ZURICH,  Monday  3.  May  1858. 

The  Erard,  good  Minna,  has  just  been  unpacked  and 
set  up  in  spite  of  rain  and  weather.  What  a  delight  it  is 
to  play  on  such  an  instrument,  only  the  player  himself 
can  fully  appreciate  :  the  lightest  pressure,  scarcely 
touching,  at  once  brings  out  that  gentle  bell-like  tone 
which  becomes  a  full  clear,  rich,  but  always  mellow  chime 
if  one  presses  somewhat  harder.  I  can  play  on  it  so 
softly  that  nobody  in  the  next  room  would  hear  me  when 
composing. — One  joy  at  least,  then,  has  stolen  like  a 
friend  into  my  life  ! 

Now  you  must  soon  give  me  the  great  joy  of  knowing 
you're  on  the  high  road  to  improvement.  That  is  the  sole 
joy  whatever  still  in  store,  and  then  we'll  thoroughly 
enjoy  your  full  recovery,  and  take  good  care  that  things 
don't  turn  so  bad  again.— 

Ivast  night  I  returned  to  our  house  with  great  sadness 
and  sinking  of  heart : — it  is  indeed  a  sore  trial  ! 

It  filled  me  with  sorrow  to  find  you  always  falling 
back,  as  at  our  taking  leave,  into  your  black  self-torturing 
fancies.  For  Heaven's  sake  don't  fasten  on  single  words 
and  expressions  of  mine,  which  you  indeed  always  under- 
stand wrong.  Do  reflect,  with  some  approach  to  justice 
and  consideration,  that  I  myself  can't  always  keep  an  eye 
alert,  with  everything  I  utter,  upon  its  possible  impression 
011  yourself.  If  I  point  out  to  you  what  a  serious  frame 
of  mind  my  own  has  been,  please  always  go  by  my 
eventual  actions,  i.e.  my  ultimate  resolves  when  the  inner 
conflict  is  ended.  You  really  need  a  thoroughly  intelli- 
gent, experienced  and  heartily  well-wishing  friend  of  your 
own  sex  just  now,  who  on  many  points  could  give  you 
such  advice  and  explanation  as  /  cannot  possibly  give  you 


ZURICH    PERIOD  325 

without  starting  fresh  misunderstandings  which  truly 
never  lay  in  my  intention.  Perhaps  that  may  also  be 
found,  and  then  you  will  be  radically  tranquillised.  But 
do  put  some  faith  in  my  character  ;  on  my  last  visit  did 
you  not  remark  the  genuine,  ay,  cheerful  calm  I  now 
have  won  ?  Surely  you  noticed  no  unrest,  distraction,  or 
dissimulation  in  me  ;  let  that  reassure  you  on  the  state  of 
matters  in  my  inner  self.  Without,  too,  all  is  set  in 
order,  and  my  sole  remaining  care  is  for  your  health  ;  a  care 
that  fills  me  with  sincere  concern  when  I  see  you  still 
so  ailing.  Think  of  nothing  beyond  your  cure  ;  firmly 
and  steadfastly  believe  I'm  keeping  nothing  from  you  that 
might  give  you  reason  for  anxiety  on  my  account ;  be  sure 
of  me,  and  rest  assured  I  hope  and  long  for  nothing  more 
upon  this  earth  and  in  this  life,  than  peace  and  quiet  to 
be  able  to  fulfil  my  task  that  keeps  me  on  my  feet.  So 
let  us  jointly  bear  the  lot  appointed  us,  be  lenient  toward 
each  other's  foibles,  and  honestly  assist  each  other  to 
fulfil  life's  heavy  task  with  cheerfulness  unruffled  !— 

So  once  more,  and  ever  more  : — Get  well  !  Sleep  calm 
and  free  of  an}'  care  for  me  !  I  too  am  calm,  and  in  my 
breast  there  dwells  a  peace  so  deep  that  nothing  save  the 
care  about  your  health  can  shake  it  now. 

Enjoy  our  Fipsel  also,  whom  I  truly  left  you  at  a 
heavy  sacrifice  ;  I  miss  him  terribly,  and  when  I  drew  his 
basket  on  one  side  to  go  to  bed,  tears  came  into  my  eyes. 
But  you  shall  keep  him  ;  I  will  eke  out  with  the  Erard 
and  my  work  now.  Help  me  yourself  as  well,  through 
good  news  of  your  health  !  — 

Kindest  regards  to  the  Herr  Doctor  and  family  !  Be 
brave,  as  I  am  ;  behave  yourself,  and  thereby  prove  to  me 
you  really  love  me  !  Thy 

RICHARD. 


326  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

124. 

ZURICH,  Thursday,  13.  May  1858. 

How  goes  it  with  you  on  Ascension  day,  good  Mutz  ? 
We  have  rain  again,  and  so  far  as  I'm  concerned,  I 
shouldn't  care  to  join  the  flight  to  Heaven  ;  I'd  rather  fly 
beneath  the  earth  !— 

God,  what  a  melancholy  time  it  is  !  Yoifre  in  clover  ; 
the  cure  gives  you  plenty  to  do,  you  have  dog,  bird,  and 
agreeable  male  society.  Since  Monday,  when  I  saw 
Herwegh,  /  haven't  caught  sight  of  a  soul  ;  which  quite 
suits  me,  all  the  same.  At  least  I  have  declined  another 
invitation  to  the  Hubers  to-day  ;  to  me  it  isn't  any  jollity. 
Yesterday  she  called,  in  my  absence,  to  enquire  after  your 
health  ;  I  shall  look  in  for  a  moment  tomorrow.  If  only 
the  Herwegh  would  get  confined  at  last,  at  least  there' d 
be  a  human  being  the  more  in  the  world.  She  has  been 
in  labour  for  2  days,  and  Friedrich  brought  word  to-day  it 
had  got  no  forwarder.  It  must  be  a  truly  hard  job  for 
her  ! — 

I'm  not  at  all  the  thing  myself.  Those  Brestenberg 
visits  in  bad  weather  have  left  their  tracks  in  rheumatisms 
of  all  kinds  ;  also  I  am  troubled  with  my  lower  parts 
again,  apparently  in  consequence.  Probably  you  will  not 
get  sight  of  your  husband  next  Saturday  :  I  really  should 
like  to  fetch  back  a  little  good  humour  for  once  ;  but  the 
weather  will  certainly  have  to  do  its  share  in  that.  More- 
over, I'm  just  getting  true  zest  for  my  work  [comp. 
Tristan  ii]  and  all  manner  of  delicious  themes  are  occurring 
to  me,  which  I  easily  might  lose  'twixt  wind  and  weather 
in  that  open  chaise.  Should  it  turn  out  very  fine,  how- 
ever, I'll  come  for  sure  ;  rely  on  that. 

And  not  a  cock  crows,  not  a  dog  barks,  not  a  cat 
mews  for  one  ;  never  a  sound  from  abroad.  It's  really 


ZURICH    PERIOD  327 

getting  on  my  nerves  !  Na,  send  me  good  tidings 
yourself,  that  one  at  least  may  have  one  prospect  of  things 
mending.  Yonr  having  got  accustomed  to  the  complete 
packings  so  soon,  is  a  good  sign.  The  first  time  at 
Vaillant's  I  felt  alarmed  in  them  myself;  so  don't  let  that 
upset  you.  On  the  whole  I  see  progress,  and  hope  it  will 
continue. 

Unless  I  were  tempted  before  by  fine  weather,  probably 
you  won't  see  me  again  till  my  birthday,  when  I  hope 
you'll  already  be  feeling  much  better.  Miiller  will  come 
with  me  then,  in  any  case  ;  he  promised  it  me  solemnly 
at  the  parade. 

I  really  do  not  know  at  all  what  else  to  tell  you.  I 
am  so  living  in  my  inner  world  now,  that  I  literally  do  not 
remark  if  aught  is  happening  in  the  outer.  It  is  possible 
I  may  look  in  on  Sulzer  to-day,  though  ;  perhaps  I  shall 
hear  something  there. 

Now,  God  and  Dr  Erismann  preserve  you  !  I  will 
attend  to  your  commissions  ;  if  I  do  not  come  Saturday,  I 
shall  send  you  the  biscuits  for  Jacquot.  I'm  also  getting 
a  new  ring  set  with  a  green  stone  expressly  for  you  ; 
there  was  nothing  of  the  sort  in  stock. — Farewell,  be 
patient  and  hold  out,  that  you  may  give  joy  to 

Thy 

RICHARD. 
(Fipps  is  a  good  fellow.) 

125. 

ZURICH,  Sunday,  16.  May  1858. 

DEAR  MINNA, 

There  it  goes,  raining  the  whole  blessed  Sunday 
again,  and  though  I'm  not  particularly  delighted  with  it 
here,  it's  well  that  we  are  not  passing  the  rain-sunday 


328  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

together  at  Brestenberg  in  mutually  affixing  our  crotchets 
again.  When  the  weather  looked  so  promising  yesterday 
I  felt  quite  sorry  I  hadn't  come,  but  indeed  I  also  think 
the  doctor  is  right  that  my  visits  excite  you  ;  at  least  I've 
never  yet  been  able  to  bring  home  a  true  belief  that  I  had 
soothed  you,  however  willing  my  intention.  That  also 
will  come  in  good  time  ;  but  the  greatest  equability  and 
true  relaxation  of  spirit  are  doubtless  the  first  essentials 
for  your  present  cure.  Indifferent  society,  and  particularly 
reading,  are  very  good  then  ;  I  know  it  from  experience, 
notwithstanding  that  my  creative  fancy  always  keeps  me 
in  a  certain  agitation — which  is  not  unpleasant  in  itself, 
but  gets  made  painful  by  clashing  with  other  vibrations 
of  life.  Accept  my  heartiest  congratulations  on  the 
' '  splendid  night  ' '  of  which  you  wrote  in  your  last  letter  ; 
it  did  me  worlds  of  good  myself,  to  receive  such  good 
tidings  from  you.  Yes,  simply  rest  !  rest  !  both  of  us 
need  it  so  badly.  Arid  that  will  come,  too  ;  only  be  kind 
and  continue  reporting  your  faintest  improvements. — 

I  have  not  been  at  my  best  myself  this  week  past.  I 
always  feel  worst  of  a  morning  ;  it  is  the  old  abdominal 
disturbance,  connected  with  my  blood  trouble.  I  have 
tried  making  an  alteration  in  my  breakfast,  but  remarked 
no  difference.  It  has  its  times  and  seasons,  but  I  know 
only  too  well  on  the  whole  where  its  seat  is  :  I  live  too 
much  within  myself,  and  have  too  little  diversion  without  ; 
which  has  been  brought  about,  in  turn,  by  my  situation 
since  ever  so  long.  Naturally,  even  the  love  for  my  work 
suffers  under  it  ;  good  God  !  from  whence  can  I  expect  at 
last  to  draw  my  inspiration  ?  For  two  days  I  had  made 
no  headway  with  my  work  at  all  ;  yesterday  morning  I 
quite  fell  into  despair,  and — just  to  see  human  beings  and 
let  off  a  little  steam — I  promptly  set  out  for  the  Willes', 


ZURICH    PERIOD  329 

where  I  remained  until  late  in  the  evening.  After  hardly 
speaking  a  word  for  a  whole  week,  I  properly  unloaded 
myself  there  of  all  manner  of  artistic  plans.  To-day  I've 
really  felt  a  little  better,  and  my  work  has  gone  well. 
Yes,  the  body  is  not  accountable  for  everything  ;  the 
soul  needs  its  excursions  also  !— 

This  evening  I'm  invited  to  Sulzer's,  where  whist  is 
to  be  played  with  M tiller.  I  called  upon  Sulzer  the  other 
day,  but  couldn't  do  much  with  him  ;  what  interests  him 
is  most  indifferent  to  myself,  at  bottom.  He  seems  badly 
put  out,  moreover  ;  the  shooting  business  cropped  up  too. 
—But  now  for  a  principal  item  :  the  day  before  yesterday, 
at  3  in  the  afternoon,  the  Herwegh  was  at  last  delivered  of 
a  strapping  boy  ;  so  you  may  congratulate  her. — 

I  have  had  one  joy  :  young  Hirzel  came  back  from 
Leipzig  and  left  me,  as  he  didn't  catch  me,  the  wished  for 
photograph  of  father  Geyer's  portrait  ;  which  really  touched 
me  very  much.  It  has  turned  out  quite  passably  ;  the 
face  excellently.  With  it  there  also  lay  a  pencil  copy  of 
the  same  picture,  executed  by  Clemens  Brockhaus,  which 
certainly  leaves  much  to  desire. — That  is  all  that  has 
occurred  to  me,  tho'  ;  otherwise  nothing  but  nonsense, 
stupid  letters  from  musicians,  and  so  on.  Consequently  I 
still  am  left  in  expectation  of  something  decent  turning  up 
at  last.— 

If  you  write  me  of  nights  slept  well  through,  it  will 
be  what  I  should  like  best  ;  and  if  ever  you  feel  bad  and 
wretched — which  I  do  not  wish — just  think  of  your 
husband,  who  often  fares  no  better  too.— 

Friedrich  forgot  the  biscuits,  and  has  got  the  sack  for 
it  from  me.  His  only  passion  is  the  garden,  and  the 
housekeeping  book  is  always  blossoming  into  a  mass  of 
plantings,  to  say  nothing  of  4^  fr.  for  bean-poles  ;  I  must 


330  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

really  put  some  check  on  his  enthusiasm.  Otherwise  he 
is  quite  a  model  of  steadiness,  so  that  I've  really  nothing 
to  complain  of.  Lasette  is  a — cow  !— 

Now  best  greetings  to  your  honoured  company,  and  give 
the  Herr  Doctor  my  kindest  thanks  for  your  good  nights  ; 
you  require  plenty  more  of  them  !— 

I  shall  be  with  you  in  good  time  Saturday,  and  Miiller 
too.      The  rascal  hasn't  even  shewn  his  face  here,  though  ! 
Now   farewell,    greet    the    animals,    and    Fippsius    in 
especial  ;   hold  me  dear,  and  continue  rejoicing 

Thy 

HUSBAND, 
who  deserves  it  ! 

126. 

ZURICH,  Tuesday,  25.  Mav  1858. 

0  Minna  ! — very,  very  bad  weather  ;   rheumatic  pains, 
and  all  the  rest  !      To  work  it  off,  I  climbed  up  the    pear- 
tree  again  yesterday.      Heims  came  in  the  evening  ;   they 
send  you  kind  regards  :     I  had  to  tell   them   a   lot  about 
you. — But    what   shall    I   tell   yourself?       Whence    take, 
without  stealing?      Stay,    tho',    here's  something   I  have 
stolen  from  the  Tagblatt,  but  which   had  already  appeared 
in  the  Eidgenossische  yesterday  :   Friedrich  brought  it  up 
to   me   with  great   importance — it   would   interest  me,  he 
thought.— 

1  have  received  no  further  letter  of  congratulation  at 
all,    except    from    Herr   Regierungsrath    Franz    Miiller    of 
Weimar,  but  another  surprise  in  the   garden,  and  we    are 
quite  unable  to  find   out  to  whom  one  owes  it.      On  the 
morning  of  my  birthday  an  extremely  choice  rose-bed   was 
planted  in  the  garden  ;    indeed,  it  was   already  there  at  6 
o'clock,  when    Friedrich   got    up.        At   first    we   believed 


ZURICH    PERIOD  331 

Lorck  had  received  orders  for  it  ;  but  then  I  remembered 
having  never  expressed  such  a  wish  to  the  Wesendoncks,— 
albeit  to  Herwegh,  whom  I  asked  a  month  ago  for  his 
opinion  whether  it  wasn't  too  late  to  plant  such  a  bed, 
whereon  I  let  the  subject  drop.  Friedrich  now  declares 
he  knows  for  absolutely  certain  that  L,orck  did  not  lay  out 
the  bed,  neither  he  nor  his  men  ;  what  is  more,  they 
hadn't  any  rose-trees  of  that  sort.  They  are  all  ticketed 
and  appear  to  be  very  expensive,  consequently  I  presume 
that  Frobel  [nurseryman?]  supplied  them  ;  and  as  I  also  know 
that  last  year's  cushion  was  not  from  Wesendonck,  I'm 
half  inclined  to  think  some  unknown  being  is  making 
game  of  me.  I  really  didn't  want  to  tell  you  of  it  till  I 
found  a  clue  ;  so — don't  get  angry  over  it,  old  dog  in 
the  manger  ! 

Concerning  the  strawberries,  I  have  to  tell  you  that 
they  really  have  all  come  to  flower.  So  soon  as  Lisette 
finds  some  good  asparagus,  you  shall  have  it  sent  you. 
Everything  else  is  in  order,  only  Friedrich  is  grumbling 
about  the  snails.  I  haven't  been  to  town  yet,  to  see  after 
the  ring. 

My  little  Tausig  (Tausendsappermenter)  played  to  us 
magnificently  yesterday  ;  almost  a  second  Biilow.  He 
gives  me  great  delight,  affording  me  distraction,  enter- 
tainment, and  incentive.  To-day,  too,  I  have  again  been 
able  to  compose  well. — 

There  now  !  But  how  goes  it  with  yourself?  Slowly 
—very  gradually  !  I  know  all  that  :  but  only  so  can 
you  be  re-established  in  the  end.  Simply  force  yourself 
to  repose  and  indifference  !  Rest  assured  it  will  work  ; 
I  know  it  from  my  own  experience.  Often,  if  I  have  a 
fit  of  the  blues,  I  suddenly  tell  myself:  "But  if  that 
really  is  the  case,  cannot  you  prevail  against  it  by  sheer 


332  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

composure  ?  "  So  much  will  then  pass  over  one  with  no 
particular  impression,  and  finally  one  sees  it  wouldn't 
really  have  been  worth  the  while,  and  everything  would 
only  have  worsened,  if  one  had  flown  into  a  passion. 
How  should  I  have  the  heart  left  for  any  work  you 
please,  for  instance,  if  I  dwelt  on  nothing  but  its  future 
bad  performances  ? — 

Apropos,  Tichatscheck  has  sung  Tannhauser  at  Berlin 
with  eclat  ;  consequently  there  will  be  good  tantiemes  in 
July.  We  can  do  with  them  ! 

I'm  expecting  news  from  you  tomorrow,  and  hope  for 
thorough  good  ones.  The  doctor  has  firm  trust  ;  so  you 
must  let  him  prove  it  ! 

Fipps  was  quite  haughty  when  he  got  home,  and 
wouldn't  deign  a  glance  at  Friedrich,  so  that  the  latter 
felt  quite  hurt.  Last  evening,  when  there  was  company, 
however,  he  thawed.  Unfortunately  I  cannot  take  long 
walks  with  him  in  this  bad  weather.— 

Now  be  right  good  and  patient.  My  heart  has  really 
great  misgivings  lest  you  should  suddenly  lose  patience 
and  do  yourself  some  injury  through  fretting.  Simply 
remember  what  a  good  husband  you  have  !  So  farewell  ; 
be  good — and  sleep  a  lot  ! 

Thy  out  and  out 

GOOD    MAN. 

127. 

ZURICH,  28.  May  1858. 

DEAR    MINNA, 

I  really  would  have  gladly  come  to  you  to-day,  if 
a  conveyance  could  have  been  anyhow  arranged.  So  I  am 
waiting  till  8  days  hence,  from  which  time  forward  I  shall 
be  able  to  visit  you  regularly  once  a  week  and  fetch  myself 
good  evidence  of  your  performance.— 


ZURICH    PERIOD  333 

In  place  of  your  broken  ring  I  am  sending  you  to-day 
a  whole  it's  to  be  hoped  will  wear  better  than  the  old 
one,  which  was  rather  flimsy  stuff.  You  shall  have  that 
back  as  well,  though.— 

I  should  have  dined  with  the  Wesendoncks  at  Huber's 
to-morrow,  but  had  already  declined  for  the  Willes.  This 
evening  I'm  expecting  Herwegh  and  Semper  here  ;  let  us 
hope  I  shall  find  the  bottle  of  rum.  Nothing  has  occurred 
since  yesterday  ;  everything  is  quiet  and  in  order.  It  is 
only  with  great  emotion  that  I  watch  the  garden,  since 
you  cannot  enjoy  it  in  its  waxing  beauty.  Friedrich  is 
exemplary  in  his  care  ;  he  has  finished  sowing  the  lawn 
all  alone,  as  the  gardener  never  came  ;  whilst  everything 
is  nicely  planted,  and  transplanted. 

The  house  is  quite  in  order  otherwise.  When  I  cast 
my  eye  around,  I  really  must  rejoice  in  the  beautiful  Asyl 
prepared  us.  It  is  and  will  be  saved  to  us  ;  we  have  to 
do  with  pure  and  noble  people.  Yet  the  winter  shall  be 
lightened  for  you,  even  next  one  ;  in  any  case  we'll  pass 
it  somewhere  that  offers  more  distraction.  About  that  in 
due  time  !— 

For  to-day,  all  that's  best  and  fairest  !  and  the  heartiest 
wishes  for  your  mending  ! 

Thy 
R. 

128. 

ZURICH,  Friday,  28.  May  1858. 

This  moment  I've  received  your  letter,  dear  Minna, 
and  am  much  rejoiced  at  its  good  humour,  which  leads  me 
to  infer  good  health.  I  meant  to  surprise  you  Sunday 
morning — weather  favouring — but  if  you  will  and  can 
come  yourself,  the  better  shall  I  be  pleased  ;  for  even  in 


334  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

bad  weather — of  which  there's  a  prospect — it  is  easier  to 
rub  on  here  than  at  Brestenberg.  So,  on  the  chance  of 
your  really  executing  your  proposal,  I  shall  write  you 
nothing  more  to-day  ;  neither  will  I  despatch  your  finished 
ring — as  I  should  otherwise  have  done — but  simply  beg 
you  to  leave  Wildegg  by  the  i  o'clock  train  tomorrow, 
Saturday,  when  you  will  get  here  exactly  at  dinner-time, 
and  all  needful  cleaning  up  here  can  also  be  taken  in  hand 
in  the  morning.  Asparagus  has  been  sent  off  to  you 
already,  but  I  shall  see  to  your  finding  some  here  as  well. 
—That  you  may  get  these  lines  to-day  itself,  I  must  hurry 
Friedrich  to  the  post ;  therefore  nothing  beyond — Come  if 
you  can,  and  it  will  greatly  delight  me  to  shew  you  every- 
thing in  good  condition. 
Auf  Wiedersehen  ! 

Thy 
RICHARD. 

129. 

ZURICH,  Sunday  evening,  30.  May  1858. 

DEAR  MINNA, 

Fear  nothing  !  Be  calm  !  I'm  greatly  suffering  ; 
yet  you  touched  me  greatly  [see  pp.  340-1].  Perhaps  every- 
thing will  so  take  shape  that  we  can  quietly  await  the 
amnesty.  Even  a  temporary  separation  will  scarcely  be 
needed.  Let  your  only  care  be  for  your  health  ;  if  you 
recover  that,  and  tranquillity  of  mind,  you  will  alleviate 
this  time  of  trial  for  us. 

It  will  be  the  last  ;  and  perhaps  enduring  calm  will 
light  the  evening  of  our  life.  In  the  worst  extremity  God 
helps,  if  the  heart  is  pure  and  kind  !  — 

Thy 
RICHARD. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  335 

130. 

ZURICH,  Monday  noon,  31.  May  1858. 

GOOD  MINNA, 

I  have  had  a  lovely  night,  peaceful,  refreshing 
sleep  ;  what  a  blessing  !  How  I  wish  it  were  bestowed 
on  you  again  in  ample  measure  ! — So  I  feel  tranquil  again, 
clear  and  strengthened.  The  sight  of  our  beautiful  garden, 
of  this  agreeable  Asyl,  affects  me  ;  your  having  suddenly 
lost  all  taste  for  it  yourself,  after  that  grievous  night,  has 
pained  me.  Reflect  what  sufferings  /  had  undergone 
before  ;  I  who,  to  spare  you  for  the  present,  during  your 
cure,  had  had  the  garden  tended  !  Yet — I  am  calm  and 
collected.  We  will  consider  nothing  altogether  settled 
yet  ;  God  will  help  to  make  our  hearts  clear  and  com- 
posed ;  and  out  of  the  heart  come  all  things,  good  and 
evil.  Take  courage  ;  and  whatever  may  some  day  prove 
inevitable,  forget  in  no  ordeal  still  haply  in  store  for  you 
that  for  you  there  beats  a  good,  a  grateful,  and  a  loving 
heart  in  mine.  Be  just,  and  acknowledge  that  in  this 
truly  awful  time — for  me  as  well — my  every  action  has 
been  finally  dictated  by  that  heart.  What  I  have  suffered, 
moreover,  you  simply  may  measure  by  this  :  not  only 
have  I  felt  my  own,  but  fellow-felt  the  sufferings  of 
others  also.  Consequently  I  may  regard  myself  as  greatly 
chastened,  and  now,  after  being  unable  as  yet  to  spare 
you  many  a  hard  word  the  last  time,  my  calm  is  returning 
to  me  fairer  than  before,  and  I  can  be  nothing  but  kind. 
A  great  seriousness  has  come  over  me,  however,  and  will 
abide  with  me  for  good.  Win  you  this  noble  seriousness, 
which  constitutes  true  human  dignity,  and  we  shall  easily 
agree  at  all  points.  In  that  case,  if  I  may  argue  from 
my  inner  feelings,  I  hope  for  a  benignant  issue  to  what- 
ever trials  may  be  still  appointed  us.  To  begin  with, 


336  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

though,  it  remains  unalterably  fixed  [between  us  *  ]  that 
I  give  up  all  personal  intercourse  with  our  neighbours  ; 
only  thus  has  it  become  possible  for  me  to  retain  the  Asyl 
for  us  till  the  fitting  time.  In  the  long  run  that  will  and 
must  seem  best  to  all  concerned. 

Now,  best  greetings  !  May  these  few  lines  of  mine 
have  helped  to  calm  you  ! 

Farewell,  behave  well  !      I  shall  visit  you  very  soon. 

Thy 
R. 

131. 

ZURICH,  Monday,  31.  May  1858.     Evening. 

Can  you  explain  to  me,  dear  Mutz,  the  meaning  of 
this  telegram  I  have  just  received  from  Dresden?  I  can- 
not make  it  out,  and  don't  know  how  to  answer  it  ;  so  I 
presume  you  must  have  written  to  Frau  Tichatscheck  and 
invited  them.  Please  help  me  out  of  the  dilemma.  It 
looks  as  if  we  had  been  expecting  the  Tichatschecks 
shortly,  and  the  wife  would  like  to  know  if  she  may  come 
alone. — Please  answer  me  at  once,  if  you  know  about  it. 

And  be  plucky  and  calm  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

132. 

ZURICH,  Thursday  3.  June  1858. 

Dear  Child,  you  haven't  quite  correctly  understood 
and  estimated  the  seriousness  of  my  communications  ;  but 
doubtless  that  is  not  given  to  you  yet,  and  in  any  case  it 
alters  nothing  in  mvself  and  course  of  action.  So  abide 


*  "  To  pacify  her,  at  last  1  broke  off  all  association  with  our  neighbours 
during  that  time '' — to  sister  Clara  next  August :  see  Introduction  to 
R.  Wagner  to  M.  Wescndonck ;  see  also  letter  132  below. — Tr. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  337 

by  the  latter,  and  infer  my  sentiments  from  that ;  you 
will  never  have  to  complain  of  it.  So — now  above  all, 
and  for  ever,  Peace  !  No  more  brooding  ;  everything  is 
above-board,  and  the  resolution,  ay,  the  hope  stands  fast, 
that  all  may  take  a  smooth  and  favourable  turn.  So — no 
more  about  it  now  ! — 

The  Dresden  telegram  explained  itself  the  following 
day — in  the  evening.  Frau  Tichatscheck  came  to  visit 
us  with  her  daughter  (on  an  excursion  from  Soden,  where 
the  daughter  is  taking  baths)  ;  she  was  very  distressed 
not  to  find  you,  as  the  telegram,  about  which  I  had  to 
tell  her  at  once,  called  her  back  in  hot  haste.  After 
passing  the  evening  at  our  house  with  Miiller,  she 
travelled  back  at  5  next  morning. — Tichatscheck  (as  you 
will  see  from  the  enclosed  playbill)  sang  in  Tannhauser 
at  Berlin  a  second  time,  by  desire  ;  so — good  receipts  !— 
I  shall  bring  you  a  little  souvenir  she  left  behind  for 
you.— 

Otherwise  nothing  has  happened.  The  Wesendoncks 
arrived  the  evening  before  last.  He  called  upon  me 
yesterday  and  invited  me  to  tea  ;  whereon  I  very  deli- 
cately explained  to  him  in  writing  that  we  would  remain 
on  friendly  terms  for  the  future,  but  without  personal 
intercourse.  Let  it  stop  at  that,  and  I  most  earnestly  beg 
you  to  abstain  from  any  kind  of  interference  :  which  would 
only  have  results  I  should  be  obliged  to  regard  as  a  fresh 
breach  of  your  trust !  This  must  be  entirely  my  affair  ; 
and  I  hope  you  will  obey  me  this  time  at  least.  Here  it 
is  no  question  of  strength  or  weakness  upon  my  side,  but 
solely  of  this  :  that  it  has  appeared  to  me  the  sole  resource 
for  avoiding  possible  unpleasantnesses,  provided  we  mean 
to  remain  here.— 

I  have  been   invited   with   Tausig  to   Wille's  to-day. 
VOL.    I  22 


338  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Baumgartner   came  yesterday  afternoon,    and   opened   his 
mouth  to  his  ears  at  Tausig's  piano-playing.— 

Well — we've  weather  now  and  no  mistake  ;  it's  bright 
and  hot,  and  you'll  enjoy  the  water.  Only  see  to  going 
nicely  through  your  cure  again  :  true,  it  can't  do  every- 
thing, and  the  mind  must  help  ;  but  the  mind  becomes 
less  irritable  when  bodily  comfort  increases.  The  one 
must  help  the  other,  and  just  as  the  very  best  mental 
distraction  would  have  done  you  no  permanent  good  if 
the  basis  of  bodily  health  were  not  first  re-established,  so 
I  hope  that  both  may  march  hand  in  hand  henceforward 
to  the  advancement  of  your  well-being. 

I'll  hunt  for  the  key.      Sunday — for  certain,  I  think — 
we  shall  see  one  another  again.      Farewell,   and — firmly 
rely  on  Thy 

good  HUSBAND  ! 

I  have  only  just  received  your  last  letter  ;  so  the 
Immediate  didn't  work  !  You  are  enlightened  now,  tho'. 
I  will  tell  you  more  by  mouth  about  the  unlucky  visit 
[Frati  T. 's]. — Sleep  well — and  accept  best  remembrances 
from  all  the  household.— 

133. 

Wednesday, 

(the  such  and  such  of  June] 

( :  ZURICH,  9.  June  1858  : ) 

Dearest  Mutz,  I  have  nothing  at  all  to  write  to  you, 
and  really  am  in  a  fix  about  it,  as  you  will  be  expecting 
a  letter  from  me  all  the  same.  No  letter  for  me,  no 
tidings,  no  occurrence,  no  call  ;  only  bad  nights,  as  I 
have  a  sort  of  crisis  again,  and  am  constantly  driven  from 
bed  and  sleep  for  several  hours,  when  I  make  studies  of 
dawn  effects  and  other  fine  things  of  the  kind.  In  the 


ZURICH    PERIOD  339 

daytime  I  am  not  of  much  use  then,  nor  in  the  best  of 
humour  ;  which  is  a  hindrance  to  my  work  in  particular. 
Thus  each  has  his  torment,  though  mine  is  transient  this 
time,  and  it  becomes  me  ill  to  vent  my  lamentations  on 
you  poor  tormented  woman.  For  that  I  surely  might 
have  awaited  news  from  yourself;  for  state-of-health  is 
indeed  the  supreme  question  with  you  now,  and  every- 
thing depends  on  how  it  promises.  Is  it  progressing  a 
little  ?  Have  you  anything  satisfactory  to  tell  me  ? 

My  God,  I'm  really  growing  somewhat  impatient 
myself,  though  I  was  fully  prepared  for  a  lingering  cure. 
However,  once  you've  recovered  your  equilibrium  after 
its  last  disturbance,  I  believe  a  marked  improvement  will 
soon  appear.  Good  nights  ;  that  is  almost  the  chief 
point  ! — Well,  Fipsel  is  helping  you  again  now  ;  I  miss 
him  very  much  again  myself.— 

Stay,  tho',  a  letter:  Billow  has  written — about  the 
arrangements  \_IpJiig.  and  Tristan\  and  accepted  once  more 
with  his  wife  for  the  end  of  July.  That  fits  in  quite  well, 
and  the  agreeable  distraction  of  having  the  house  a  bit 
full  will  serve  you  very  happily  as  after-cure.  Tausig  is 
gradually  worming  his  way  into  my  heart  ;  small  bad 
habits  apart,  he  really  is  a  very  intelligent,  sympathetic 
and  good-hearted  youngster  ;  he  seems  much  attached  to 
me,  and  often  surprises  me  with  a  torrent  of  thanks  for 
my  kindness  to  him.  So  he  forms  a  very  agreeable  little 
companion  to  me  and  blues-conductor.  Owing  to  the 
great  heat  in  his  room,  he  often  works  in  yours  beneath 
me  now,  where  he  makes  his  nest  from  12  o'clock  without 
a  sound.  I  hunted  out  your  mantilla  and  ribbon  to-day, 
and  have  given  them  to  Friedrich  for  despatch  to  you.  On 
the  other  hand,  despite  the  most  diligent  search  I've  been 
unable  to  find  the  lemonade  extract  and  mv  small  umbrella. 


340  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

That  must  suffice  you  for  this  time  ;  I  kept  thinking 
something  might  occur,  to  make  this  letter  presentable — 
but  nothing  has  chosen  to  come  ;  so  please  put  up 
with  it. 

Be  thoroughly  industrious  with  your  cure  ;  be  at  rest 
within  your  heart,  and  then  the  heart  itself  will  soon 
become  more  restful.  Salute  the  Doctor,  and  tell  him 
that  I  hope  to  find  you  quite  phlegmatic  when  next  I 
come. 

Farewell  and  send  fine  tidings  soon  to          Thy 

good 

HUSBAND. 

I  have  had  strawberries  for  the  first  time  to-day  ;  only 
a  few,  though.  So  soon  as  there  are  many,  you  shall  get 
some  too.— 

The  Grand  Duke  of  Baden  is  winning  my  heart  more 
and  more  ;  he  has  actually  dismissed  the  Intcndant,  so  I 
read,  and  Devrient  accordingly  remains. 

134. 

ZURICH,  Friday,  \\.June  1858. 

My  poor  Mutz,  only  be  calm  and  don't  torment  your- 
self with  fancied  evils  !  Be  gentle,  kind  and  patient  ; 
you  can't  believe  what  power  it  gives  you  over  me  !  Your 
tears  and  laments  that  last  night  in  our  house  touched  me 
more  than  any  other  argument.  Even  before  that,  how- 
ever, I  had  nothing  hostile  to  you  in  my  mind  with  my 
plan  for  the  winter  ;  I  even  believed  it  must  do  you  good 
to  divert  yourself  in  Germany,  whereas  this  retirement 
here,  in  present  circumstances,  could  bring  you  nothing 
but  continual  fret  and  worry.  Neither  did  I  consider 
Paris  a  happy  thought  for  both  of  us,  under  straitened 
conditions — if  I  produced  nothing  of  mine  there — and 


ZURICH    PERIOD  341 

since  you  speak  no  French.  However,  I've  told  you  that 
already  ;  so  enough  of  it  here  !  Now  I  know  how 
differently  you  regard  all  that,  rest  assured  I  shan't 
urge  you  to  anything  you  do  not  like,  or  in  which 
you  don't  concur  with  me.  Do  let  that  suffice  you  !— 
I  am  not  going  to  turn  you  adrift,  please  don't  think 
that  ! — I  am  entire  master  of  my  actions  ;  whether  I  go  or 
stay,  depends  upon  myself  alone.  She  whom  you  hate  so 
wishes  nothing  more  than  that  I  should  retain  this  pretty 
Asyl,  even  if  she  never  sees  or  has  any  other  intercourse 
with  me  ;  the  only  condition,  upon  the  other  hand,  on 
which  I  deem  it  possible  to  remain  here  and  wait  for 
my  amnesty.  Just  comprehend,  then,  with  whom  you 
have  to  do  !  In  truth — as  I  told  you  before — by  kindness, 
gentleness  and  magnanimity,  you  might  have  contributed 
much  to  making  everything  easier  and  more  bearable 
here.  It  was  not  given  to  you  then,  and  I  forgive  you  ; 
but  please  reflect  that  only  so  can  you  move  me  to  all  that 
is  good,  just  as  only  so  can  things  in  general  take  a 
supportable  shape  in  the  future.  I  feel  sure  it  will  dawn 
on  you  in  time,  how  sound  is  my  advice  to  you,  and 
how  well  it  would  have  been  if  an  experienced  and 
sympathetic  feminine  friend  had  stood  at  your  side  from 
the  first. — I  simply  tell  you  this  for  your  encouragement, 
to  corroborate  you  in  your  present  milder  view  of  things, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  shew  how  you  thereby  prevail 
over  me.— 

So  do  not  fret  about  your  journey,  either,  any  more  ; 
everything  in  that  respect  shall  depend  entirely  on  your- 
self, and  I  demand  nothing  of  you,  just  as  I  likewise  have 
made  no  fixed  plans  for  myself.— 

Tranquilly  wait  for  the  end  of  your  cure  :  I  do  not 
expect  a  sudden  total  change  in  your  condition  ;  if  only 


342  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

the  foundation  be  laid  for  a  gradual  improvement,— 
and  you  are  now  on  the  high  road  to  that. — Your  body, 
which  has  been  quite  undermined  by  the  mass  of  opium 
and  physic,  must  first  renew  itself  completely  ;  you  must 
get  fresh  blood  and  nerves,  and  that  is  not  done  so  quickly. 
Luckily  you  haven't  fallen  back  on  the  old  treatment, 
and  so  are  gradually  regaining  your  former  strength  ; 
whatever  you  do,  tho',  you  must  hold  any  excitement 
aloof  with  all  your  energy,  and  to  that  end — believe  me, 
good  Minna — you  must  also  hold  your  heart  itself  in 
rein  ;  in  short,  become — what  I  call  sensible,  realise  your 
position,  and  remember  how  entirely  different  your  part  in 
life  would  be  if  we  had  children,  perhaps  even  grand- 
children. Plainly  imagine  yourself  in  that  position,  and 
you  will  soon  find  that  true  repose  and  dignity  which  will 
benefit  you  so  much.  Be  at  ease  about  myself,  however  : 
no  doubt  you  can't  quite  look  into  the  bottom  of  my 
nature,  but — believe  me — I  am  not  as  every  person,  but 
have  something  higher  in  me  whereon  I  live  and  feed,  and 
do  not  need  the  common,  trivial  sustenance  and  distraction 
of  the  world  !— 

The  quartettists  are  to  come  to  me  tomorrow  evening. 
I  shall  coach  them  nicely  up,  and  when  the  Btilows  are 
here  I'll  give  you  all  a  real  surprise.  I  shall  visit  you  also 
next  week  ;  until  then  just  keep  restful  and  steady.  My 
complaint,  which  is  never  more  than  periodic,  has  abated 
somewhat  ;  I'm  hard  at  work  again,  and  should  dearly 
like  to  set  something  in  front  of  me,  for  which  it  is  time. 
About  the  hip-baths  another  day.  Farewell  for  to-day. 
Don't  touch  on  the  subject  discussed  any  further,  if  you 
can  help  it,  but  pluck  up  courage  and  assurance  ! 

Thy 
RICHARD. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  343 

135. 

Sunday, 

ZURICH,  13.  June  1^8. 

DEAREST  MINNA, 

Your  answer  to  me  is  a  pack  of  nonsense  :  perhaps 
I  ought  to  have  been  prepared  for  it  and  rather  not  have 
written  you  my  letter.  Let  it  pacify  you  if  I  give  you  my 
word  that  you  haven't  understood  me  correctly,  but  much 
too  materially.  Grant  Heaven  that  this  may  have  an  end 
now  ;  really  it  gives  me  no  pleasure,  and  my  only  con- 
solation is  the  consciousness  of  having  meant  well  and 
intended  better.— 

So  the  quartet  was  here  last  evening.  The  fellows 
scraped  and  squeaked  so  hideously  again,  that  Tausig 
bitterly  bewailed  me.  Nevertheless  I'll  have  another  try 
next  week.— 

Hartels  have  sent  me  25  louis  d'or  for  the  Iphigenia 
[revision]  ;  consequently  we're  a  little  secured  again  on 
that  side  too.— 

I  am  scrambling  you  these  lines  after  work  and  before 
dinner  ;  after  dinner  I  can  never  bring  it  off.  I  have 
nothing  else  to  tell  you  ;  my  health  is  going  better  again. 
I'll  have  another  hunt  for  the  umbrella  ;  the  citric  acid 
can't  be  found. 

The  s/y  elephant — see  enclosure — will  delight  you  as 
much  as  it  delighted  me, — Tell  the  doctor,  If  you  don't 
sleep  well  soon,  I  shall  turn  abusive,  but  in  any  case 
I  mean  to  contribute  to  it  by  never  writing  seriously  to  you 
again,  as  it  always  seems  to  cause  you  great  confusion. 

Adieu  for  to-day,  silly  Mutz  !  We  shall  see  one 
another  this  week  ;  may  I  find  you  quite  corpulent  then, 
as  the  labourer  found  it,  and  I  shall  rejoice  myself  thin  ! 

Thy 

good  old  MAN. 


344  RICHARD    TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

136. 

ZURICH,  Wednesday,  16.  June  1858. 

DEAR  MINNA, 

The  Grand  Duke  and  Grand  Duchess  of  Weimar, 
who  have  been  at  a  Savoy  spa  until  now,  invite  me  to  a 
rendezvous  at  Lucerne  for  this  day  week.  We'll  see  if 
anything  may  result  from  this  personal  acquaintance,  and 
consequently  I  shall  go.  But  I  also  intend  to  combine  it 
with  my  next  visit  to  yourself,  as  I  otherwise  should  have 
to  leave  my  work  too  quickly  in  succession,  which  would 
much  disturb  me — now  that  I  am  thoroughly  into  it  and 
should  like  to  get  something  soon  finished.  So  you  will 
be  relieved  of  my  presence  till  a  week  from  tomorrow, 
when  I  shall  come  to  you  straight  from  Lucerne — via" 
Aarau — and  tell  you  all  fresh  what  I've  contrived  with 
the  Grand  Ducals.  You  agree  to  that,  I  suppose,  and 
won't  get  any  thoughts  into  your  head  ?  After  the  longer 
parting,  I  hope  to  find  you've  got  a  good  step  forward. 

I  learnt  very  sad  news  from  the  papers  yesterday 
through  Heim.  Tichatscheck  is  really  dangerously  ill  :  at 
least,  he  overtaxed  himself  and  had  a  haemorrhage  after 
his  return  to  Dresden  from  Berlin  ;  scarcely  recovered 
a  little  from  that,  he  attended  rehearsals — apparently  for 
Tannhauser — and  came  by  inflammation  of  the  spinal 
cord,  which  naturally  is  a  matter  of  life  or  death  :  good 
God,  the  suddenness  of  it  !  Certainly  there  still  is  hope, 
with  his  good  constitution,  but  he  naturally  will  have  to 
be  very  careful  for  a  long  time  in  any  event  ;  so  it's  all 
up  with  Rienzi  again  !  !— 

And  now  for  something  passable.  The  Basle  theatre 
has  just  been  taken  over  by  a  local  heir  to  a  fortune, 
named  Neukirch,  who  has  got  it  into  his  head  to  produce 
Lohengrin  there  with  myself,  cost  him  what  it  may.  He 


ZURICH    PERIOD  345 

is  afraid  of  no  expense,  an  enthusiast,  and  absolutely  bent 
upon  the  reputation  of  having  been  the  first  through  whom 
I  ever  heard  my  opera.  Orchestra,  scenery,  singers — 
everything  as  I  decide.  Well,  that's  a  case  for  biding, 
not  thrusting  out  one's  horns,  especially  as  I'm  thinking 
of  the  possibility  of  winning  this  rich  enthusiast  for  the 
Strassburg  undertaking  \_Tristari\  in  case  my  amnesty 
itself  hangs  fire  beyond  the  year.— 

Now  you  have  had  all  of  my  news.  Digest  them 
well  ;  they're  rather  mixed.— 

Four  days  ago — to  the  alarm  of  little  Tausig — I  went 
up  the  Uetli,  and  haven't  regained  proper  use  of  my 
shanks  even  yet.  Everything  else  here  goes  passably, 
quiet  and  lonely.  Take  care  you're  able  to  return  soon, 
or  the  garden  will  all  blossom  away  from  you  with  this 
heat.  You  shall  have  strawberries  in  a  day  or  two  ; 
yesterday  I  had  green  peas. 

Now  farewell,  and  send  consoling  tidings  to 

Thy  ^ 

Grand  Ducal 
GUEST. 

137. 

ZURICH,  Sunday,  20.  June  1858. 

GOOD  MINNA, 

I  must  hunt  out  a  sheet  of  pink  paper  to-day, 
although  I'm  so  full  of  affairs  that  I  don't  know  whether 
I  am  standing  on  my  head  or  my  heels.  Fresh  proofs 
arrived  from  Hartels  yesterday  [Tristan  full  score,  act  i] 
and  gave  me  great  delight,  since  it  all  looks  so  nice  now 
it's  engraved.  To-day — all  manner  of  agreeable  novelties. 
In  the  first  place  a  telegram  from — Tichatscheck  : 
"  Sunday.  Tannhauser  to-day.  Have  slowly  recovered. 


346  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Three  conscientious  band  rehearsals  held  ;  perform- 
ance will  go  admirably.  Johanna — Elisabeth."  Could 
I  do  anything  else  than  let  it  cost  me  a  twenty- 
franc  piece  ?  I  telegraphed  back  my  thanks,  delight  and 
greetings. 

Then  came  an  order  for  lyohengrin  from  Diisseldorf, 
which  doesn't  precisely  count  for  much,  but  still  is 
another  beginning. 

And  then  a  letter  from  Hiilsen,  about  Lohengrin 
for  Berlin.  I  must  see  to  extracting  another  advance 
from  him  ;  when  I  shall  create  no  further  difficulties. 
Who  knows  if  the  King  will  not  abdicate  for  good  by 
the  commencement  of  winter? — folk  say  October — when 
I  shall  apply  to  the  young  Prince  of  Prussia  to  let 
me  come  there.  If  that  doesn't  succeed,  why,  I  must 
leave  it  in  the  lap  of  Fate  once  more. 

I  should  soon  be  getting  an  answer  to  my  demand 
from  Vienna  also. 

See  now,  that  really  looks  a  trifle  promising.  I  mean 
to  have  a  serious  talk  with  the  Grand  Ducals  about  Berlin 
as  well.— 

The  only  thing  that  lacks  now,  is  my  having  a 
passably  healthy  wife  at  home  again.  How  stands  my 
hope  of  that,  Mutz  ?  You,  lucky  soul,  have  Fipps  at 
least  ;  I've  absolutely  nothing  fondling  here.  Is  he 
helping  you  to  sleep  well  now  ?  The  heat  has  somewhat 
diminished,  you  know,  and  I'm  in  hopes  you'll  shortly 
send  me  joyful  tidings.  Does  the  porter  go  on  deliver- 
ing you  my  greetings  from  the  station  ?  All  our 
numerous  grand  pianos  are  newly  tuned,  and  when  you 
come  home  I  expect  to  hear  you  brilliantly  extemporising 
every  morning  ;  anyhow  you  will  be  able  to  help  in  my 
composing  now. 


ZURICH    PERIOD  347 

Friedrich  and  Lisette  are  quite  despairing  of  your 
return  ;  it  takes  me  all  my  time  consoling  them.  By  the 
way,  Lisette  says  you've  made  a  mistake  about  her  wages: 
you  hadn't  engaged  her  at  IOO/T. ,  but  at  130  fr.  yearly  ; 
if  that  is  so,  of  course  I  must  pay  her  the  additional 
*]\  fr.  for  the  quarter.  That  can  soon  be  set  straight  ; 
but  money  keeps  flying  away,  and  it's  a  good  job  fresh 
prospects  are  shewing.  They  will  be  giving  Rienzi,  too, 
at  Dresden  after  all  ;  for  Tichatscheck's  illness,  though 
serious,  doesn't  appear  to  have  really  been  dangerous. 
What  a  man  he  is  !  not  the  Devil's  strength  itself  can  lay 
him  low  !  I  hope  it  will  be  the  same  with  you,  and  in  spite 
of  all  your  present  sufferings  you'll  bonnily  pull  round  again 
and  duly  help  me  celebrate  my  resurrection  in  Germany. 
The  giving  of  my  operas  again  at  Dresden  is  really  a 
very  good  thing,  and  bound  to  contribute  in  the  long  run 
to  my  amnesty  ;  one  can  hardly  conceive  otherwise. 

Well,  we  shall  see.  In  any  case  to-day's  telegram 
was  highly  momentous  to  me,  and  my  answer  will  give 
the  good  fellow  great  joy.  Perhaps  he  is  receiving  it 
this  very  instant. — 

It  is  Sunday  to-day — a  beastly  day.  I  think  of 
driving,  swimming,  or  wading  out  to  Wille's.  Strictly, 
I  ought  to  have  gone  to  Sulzer  again  ;  but  it  gives 
me  the  horrors. 

I  shall  write  you  full  particulars  of  my  Lucerne 
journey  later,  and  beg  you  to  send  the  carriage  to  the 
station  on  Thursday. 

God  preserve  you,  good  old  Wife  !  Be  of  good  cheer, 
hold  me  dear,  and  build  on 

Thy 

good  old 

HUSBAND. 


348  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

138. 

ZURICH,  Monday  early,  28.  June  1858. 

MY  GOOD  MUTZ, 

I  really  meant  to  write  you  yesterday,  but  couldn't 
get  to  it  although  I  was  invited  nowhere.  The  conse- 
quence, however,  is  that  I  have  something  extra  good 
to  tell  you  this  morning.  For  yesterday  afternoon  I 
received  a  call  from  the  Vienna  Kapellmeister  Esser,  who 
had  been  expressly  sent  by  the  management  to  arrive  at 
an  agreement  with  me  concerning  Lohengrin  and  go 
through  the  opera  itself  with  me  at  the  piano,  that  I 
might  instruct  him  in  my  minutest  intentions.  And  all 
the  way  from  Vienna  ! — That  really  is  deserving  of  all 
honour,  and  [Director]  Eckert  has  risen  mightily  in  my 
esteem  ;  it  is  a  truly  signal  and  handsome  distinction, 
such  as  I  had  never  yet  been  treated  to.  The  manage- 
ment at  the  same  time  propounded  its  counter-proposals  : 
Tantieme  is  impossible,  since  the  Karnthnerthor  theatre 
is  too  small,  has  no  high  prices,  and  in  the  very  best 
event  can  only  take  800  gulden  [a  night],  from  which 
the  company's  enormous  salaries  must  be  deducted  ;  not 
before  a  new  big  theatre  is  built,  can  the  tantieme  system 
be  expedient. — So  they  asked  me  to  accept  1000  gulden 
down  for  the  first  20  performances,  another  500  gulden 
after  the  aoth,  and  the  same  after  the  3Oth  ;  more  they 
could  not  offer  me,  in  view  of  the  present  insignificant 
takings,  and  anything  nearly  approaching  this  had  never 
yet  been  done.  I  considered  that  quite  reasonable,  and 
was  particularly  delighted  at  their  having  sent  me  their 
Kapellmeister  express  ;  so  I  signed  the  contract,  and 
immediately  received  from  Ksser  my  1000  gulden  cash. 
There's  Sunday  trading  for  you  !  We  went  through  the 
first  act  the  same  evening  ;  this  morning  the  second  is 


ZURICH    PERIOD  349 

to  take  its  turn,  and  the  third  this  evening.  His  dinner 
he's  to  take  with  me,  this  Esser,  who  let  us  hope  is 
no  Frcsser*- 

One  thing  is  certain  :  the  Viennese  production  may, 
indeed  must  prove  excellent.  They  really  have  the  best 
singers  there  ;  every  part  can  be  almost  perfectly  cast  ;  and 
since  the  Kapellmeister  also  promises  so  well,  I'm  looking 
forward  to  Vienna  very  much,  and  only  wish  I  could 
be  there. — From  the  accompanying  you  will  see  that  the 
Kaiser  of  Austria  is  also  said  to  have  intervened  in  my 
favour  at  Dresden  ;  it's  very  possible,  and  in  that  case  I 
owe  it  to  the  Grand  Duke  of  Weimar,  who  was  at  Vienna 
quite  recently  and  must  have  tackled  the  Emperor  there. 
How  it  stands  with  King  Johann,  on  the  contrary,  you  will 
likewise  gather  from  this  notice  ;  not  a  bad  joke,  forsooth, 
for  me  to  submit  to  being  tried  and  condemned  at 
Dresden  first  !  However,  the  affair  is  bound  to  take 
a  turn  now.  True,  I  have  had  no  further  news  from 
Dresden,  neither  from  Tichatscheck  nor  from  Fischer  ;  but 
Tausig's  father,  who  had  just  been  there,  has  written  his 
son  that  it  \_Tannhanser  revival]  was  something  extraordinary, 
unprecedented,  the  enthusiasm  not  to  be  described.— 

I  have  written  my  political  epistle  to  Berlin  as  well. 
There  the  scenery  and  horses  will  have  to  do  the  trick  : 
the  singers  are  too  miserable,  so  that  I  should  be  unable 
to  do  much  with  them  myself.  Lucky,  on  the  contrary, 
that  I  may  expect  such  gratification  from  Vienna. — But  if 
Hiilsen  also  forwards  that  advance,  we  shall  be  nice  and 
straight  again  for  once,  and  I  shall  pay  off  all  remain- 
ing debts,  furniture,  shoemaker,  bookbinder,  and  so  on. 
Heim,  too,  can  promptly  have  his  money  back,  and  we 
shall  have  enough  left  to  wait  for  the  future  in  safety. 
*  Esscr  =  "  eater,''  lr>'csser  =  ''  glutton." — Tr. 


350  RICHARD    TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

With  such  good  prospects,  then,  the  only  thing  still 
lacking  is  that  my  poor  dear  Mutz  should  soon  feel 
better,  and  return  to  house  and  garden  with  firm  trust 
in  her  further  convalescence.  Mind  you  employ  the 
brief  remaining  time  well,  however  long  it  seems  to  you. 
You're  in  a  good  way  now,  I  convinced  myself  of  that 
on  the  last  occasion,  to  my  great  relief ;  only  pluck 
up  heart  and  confidence  in  your  improvement,  then  it 
can't  be  long  deferred.  If  you  don't  come  soon,  the 
birds  will  hatch  everything  away  from  us  ;  another 
white-throat  has  built  her  nest  in  the  vine  under  my 
balcony  ;  ay — think  of  it  ! — one  has  even  built  and  laid 
eggs  in  your  apple-shaker.  The  white-throat  in  the  rose- 
bush has  made  great  friends  with  me  already  ;  she  is 
brooding,  and  no  longer  flies  off  when  I  pass,  but  just 
peeps  out  complacently  as  if  to  say,  You'll  not  molest  me, 
will  you  ? — Here  in  my  room,  tho',  I  have  a  blue-bottle 
that  rinses  its  mouth  out  ;  at  least  it  sounds  so  :  surely 
I  am  not  to  put  up  with  that  ? — 

I  have  to  pay  i  fr.  80  c.  for  chickens  to-day  ;  isn't 
it  scandalous  ?  But  that  comes  of  having  visitors  from 
Vienna  ! 

Now  farewell  ;  be  of  good  courage  ;  have  trust  ! 
Everything  is  straightening,  and  will  straighten  still 
better  and  better.  Adieu,  you  good  Minna  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

139. 

ZURICH,  Friday,  9.  July  1858. 

DEAREST  MINNA, 

But  tell   me,    why  don't  you  write  to  me,    then? 

Surely   there   is    more   of   importance    to    tell  me    about 

yourself   and    progress    with    your  cure,    than  I    can    tell 


ZURICH    PERIOD  351 

you  when  simply  nothing  is  happening  to  me  !  How- 
ever, I  have  been  daily  expecting  a  line  from  the  Biilows, 
concerning  whom  I  had  heard  through  Herwegh  that  they 
intended  getting  here  as  early  as  the  loth,  which  put  me 
on  tenterhooks  ;  whereas  they  haven't  written  to  this  day, 
and  if  they  did  not  first  announce  to  me  their  advent, 
I  should  really  think  it  somewhat  too  ill-mannered. 
Consequently  I  suppose  they  are  coming  at  the  time 
originally  fixed  ;  in  which  I  am  supported  by  the  latest 
tidings,  that  B.  has  engaged  himself  for  several  soirees 
at  Baden-Baden.  But  it  has  kept  me  in  suspense  from 
day  to  day,  since — if  they  had  been  coming  earlier — 
I  shouldn't  have  known  whether  I  ought  not  to  fetch 
you  earlier  myself.  Moreover,  absolutely  nothing  has 
occurred,  and  I'm  living  with  Karlchen  here  as  forsaken 
as  if  in  an  enchanted  castle.  O  yes,  one  thing  :  Tausig's 
papa  surprised  us  by  arriving  yesterday  ;  a  nervous  little 
manikin,  who  will  probably  depart  again  tomorrow.— 

I  have  settled  everything  quite  capitally  with  Fran 
Ochsner  ;  they  hadn't  really  noticed  that  one  good  wash- 
stand,  whereas  the  night-stand  was  already  gone  ;  so 
I  agreed  to  accept  55  Jr.  for  the  things  returned,  instead 
of  15  fr. ,  which  is  quite  another  thing.  She  will  also 
make  good  to  you  the  cover  that  has  disappeared,  if  you 
will  only  tell  her  what  you  claim  as  compensation.— 

The  first  tantieme  account  from  Berlin  has  come, 
255  thaler  ;  but  no  answer  from  Hiilsen  as  yet  about  the 
advance — which  rather  annoys  me.  All  I  hear,  is  that 
Hiilsen  wishes  to  resign,  and  had  an  audience  lately  of 
the  Prince  of  Prussia,  who  insisted  on  retaining  him, 
however.  Something  appears  to  be  going  on  there. 

There  you  have  all  my  news,  which  no  doubt  won't 
seem  peculiarly  important  to  you.  I  shall  fetch  you 


352  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Thursday  morning,  then  ;  I  have  already  spoken  to  Furrer 
himself.  Your  return  really  eases  my  mind  in  every 
respect,  for  thus  much  is  certain :  the  cure  is  greatly 
pulling  you  down  now,  as  I  judge  from  the  fatigue 
you  complain  of.  Remember,  however,  what  I  told 
you  beforehand  :  that  one  token  of  the  efficacy  of  the 
cure  would  be  a  feeling  of  tiredness  and  bruisedness  in 
your  limbs  ;  it  really  is  a  proof  that  the  great  excitability 
of  your  nerves  is  laid  :  I  feel  it  every  time  when  rest 
at  last  returns — especially  through  sleep — after  any  com- 
motion. So  don't  be  concerned  about  it  ;  it  only  proves 
for  certain  that  the  time  has  come  when  you  require 
a  rest,  and  for  that  very  reason  it  is  well  that  the 
exertions  of  the  cure  are  drawing  to  an  end.  Be  equally 
unconcerned  for  your  repose,  under  every  aspect,  after 
your  return  ;  here  nothing  reigns  but  calm,  and  any  further 
agitation  is  unthinkable.  But  you  will  soon  convince 
yourself  of  that  ;  perhaps  it  will  be  too  quiet  for  you  !-— 

I  intend  to  make  you  well  and  comfortable  ;  I  mean 
it — and  all  accordingly  is  well  !  Whatever  may  be  agree- 
able to  you,  you  shall  find  ;  only  you  also  must  take 
proper  care  of  yourself.  Frau  Schiirli  is  working  day 
and  night  at  your  clothes,  and  you  will  be  pleased — I 
hope — with  the  other  presents  ;  I  have  been  fairly 
particular  with  their  choice,  only  that  choice  itself  is  not 
particularly  great. — I  will  also  see  to  the  rug  and  napkin- 
ring  being  quite  according  to  your  wish  ;  so  what  more 
would  you  have  ? — 

Ivisette  is  scrubbing  and  scouring,  polishing  and 
sweeping.  What  more  would  you  have  ? 

Friedrich  is  plucking  the  tiniest  weed  from  the  path, 
and  toiling  away  left  and  right.  Both  are  looking  for- 
ward to  Thursday.  What  more  would  you  have  ? 


ZURICH    PERIOD  353 

And  your  good  husband  ?  ? 

He  would    have —    —repose  !    repose  !  !    exactly   what 
you  want  yourself.      So  come,  be  heartily  welcome,  and— 
contentment  no  doubt  will  soon  appear.— 

Farewell   for   to-day.      Write   about   your    condition  ; 
slacken  the  cure,  and  prepare  for  a  good  rest. 

From  his  heart 

Thy  dear  HUSBAND. 


140. 

ZURICH,  Sattirday,  10.  July  1858. 

DEAR  MINNA, 

Pardon  !  I  had  realty  won  an  easier  mind  about 
yourself,  than  you  had  trust  in  me.  I  did  not  believe 
the  brief  postponement  of  a  letter  from  me — now — would 
plunge  you  at  once  in  disquiet  again.  I  see  I  was  mis- 
taken, and  unfortunately  recognise  that  your  idea  of  me  is 
still  the  prey  of  every  wind  that  blows.  Well,  I  never 
thought  I  had  deserved  that  now,  but,  relying  on  your 
trust  in  me,  for  once  I  deferred  writing  you  for  2  days, 
simply  because  I  had  nothing  to  write  and  deemed  mere 
protestations  of  my  own  reliability  superfluous.  More- 
over, I  really  was  prevented  at  the  time  when  I  usually 
write,  namely  between  work  and  dinner,  as  I  had  to  go 
to  town  twice  over  to  attend  to  presents  for  yourself.  I 
could  willingly  forgive  your  little  plaguing  of  me  thus  ; 
only  your  not  ceasing  to  torment  yourself  as  well  quite 
makes  me  sad,  for  I  hardly  see  how  it  will  stand  in  my 
power  to  reassure  you  in  the  long  run.  But  enough  of 
that  now  !— 

I  am  writing  these  lines  on  the  eve  of  X's  [Tichatschek's] 
expected  arrival.     Touching  this  visit,  I  may  tell  you  very 
candidly  that  I  would  rather  have  seen  it  omitted.      Many 
VOL.   I  23 


354  RICHARD   TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

people  are  fond  of  me  whose  affection  I  am  unable  to  re- 
turn, and  what  I  have  to  say  to  him  is  so  soon  exhausted 
that  his  daily  companionship  may  become  fairly  trying  to 
me.  This  woman' s-brawl,  moreover,  has  disgusted  me  in 
the  last  degree,  and  I  should  almost  have  preferred  your 
having  passed  such  a  scandal  by  more  quietly  yourself ; 
knowing  you  were  at  a  cure,  the  wife  would  have  done 
better  to  spare  you  such  muck.  I  hate  this  whole  common 
pack,  one  as  much  as  another,  for  they're  all  of  a  much- 
ness. In  my  retirement  I  have  long  since  found  uplifting 
over  such  vulgarities,  and  any  dragging  of  me  down  into 
that  odious  stew  affronts  me  past  all  measure.  I  wish 
everyone  of  that  sort  would  only  leave  me  alone.— 

The  B[iilow]  also  writes  me  to-day  that  they  were 
just  starting  from  Berlin,  but  not  when  they'll  arrive  at 
Zurich  ;  I  presume  they'll  make  a  stay  at  Baden-Baden 
first.  - 

Now,  my  good  Mutz,  do  drum  it  into  your  head  that 
the  expected  visits  are  not  to  upset  you  in  any  way.  Only 
let  me  provide,  and  I'll  try  and  keep  everything  off  your 
shoulders.  Should  I  remark  that  a  visitor  isn't  doing  you 
good,  I'll  bundle  off  the  lot  forthwith,  and  take  a  proper 
pleasure-trip  with  you  instead.  But — don't  let  that  alarm 
you  either  ;  I  mean  merely  what  I  say,  and  have  my  eye 
on  nothing  save  your  quiet,  your  recovery.  So  let  us 
hope  for  the  best  ! 

Whether  I  shall  pay  you  another  visit  first  with  X, 
I  must  leave  unsettled.  On  the  contrary,  I  don't  think 
of  detaining  him,  and  the  sooner  I  am  rid  of  him,  the 
better  I  shall  be  pleased.  I  tell  you  candidly,  I  should 
prefer  to  come  comfortably  alone  to  you  on  Thursday 
with  the  big  carriage,  and  hope  it  may  be  so.  Pull 
yourself  together,  then  ;  anticipate  nothing  but  what  is 


ZURICH    PERIOD  355 

good  and  pleasant.  I  am  looking  after  you  ;  so  put  your 
trust  in  me,  and  don't  let  yourself  be  bent  by  every  pass- 
ing breeze,  do  you  hear? — 

So — to  our  speedy  reunion  !      Before  then  you  shall 
have  had  further  news  from  me,  especially  concerning  X. 
Farewell,    and  prove  yourself  reliant  and  reliable  to 
me  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

141. 

ZURICH,  Tuesday,  13. /#/y  1858. 

So  I'm  writing  you  for  the  last  time,  dear  Minna, 
to-day.  From  your  yesterday's  letter  I  reaped  at  least 
the  boon  of  reassuring  news  about  yourself  and  your  con- 
dition. It  was  needed  ;  for  I  have  been  and  am  greatly 
fatigued.  Imagine  it,  on  Sunday  came  Niemann  besides, 
and  indeed  with  his  fiancee,  the  famous  Seebach.  They 
spent  Sunday  evening  here,  when  I  read  aloud,  and  the 
whole  of  Monday,  when  /  had  to  keep  at  it  of  course,  as 
these  people  will  hear  of  nothing  but  myself  and  my  new 
works.  Early  this  morning  the  Niemanns  departed.  By 
all  means  he  is  just  born  for  Siegfried  ;  yet — I  have  no 
more  hope  of  anything,  and  all  I  know  for  certain  is  the 
unheard-of  exertions  I'm  always  strictly  squandering. 

But  on  all  that  by  mouth  the  day  after  tomorrow. 
Most  likely  X  will  come  with  me,  though  I  gladly  would 
leave  him  at  home  ;  there  really  will  not  even  be  con- 
venient room  in  the  carriage.  We'll  see.— 

Very  well,  no  rug.  Instead  a  very  beautiful  cigar-box 
at  30  fr.,  and  a  napkin-ring  at  16  fr.  ;  nearly  50  fr. 
together.  That  is  neither  too  much  nor  too  little.  [Present 

for  the  Brestenberg  doctor?] 


356  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

To-day  holds  out  a  prospect  of  fine  weather  ;  the 
barometer  is  also  standing  high  :  accordingly  the  hope 
that  you  will  make  a  thoroughly  cheerful  re-entry  here. 
I  expect  to  arrive  by  u  at  latest,  and  hope  we  shall  be 
home  by  7.  Now  shew  that  you  understand  the  making 
of  a  proper  cure  ;  may  God  give  his  blessing  !  I'm  so 
run  down  to-day,  that  I  have  sent  X  out  awhile  ;  Miiller, 
to  whom  I  took  him  at  once,  unfortunately  is  on  duty 
at  Kiissnacht  this  week,  of  all  others  ;  he  will  drop  in  for 
dinner  to-day,  though.  It  is  getting  time  you  also  came 
yourself !  May  the  distractions  you  will  find  here  do 
you  good  !  You  will  also  find  letters — from  Fraulein 
SchifFener  the  faithful,  and  from  Clara  ;  I  don't  think 
there's  any  hurry  with  them.— 

So,  a  thousand  best  greetings  ;  strengthen  yourself  by 
good  sleep  for  my  coming  ;  and  then  be  kind  and  calm 
toward 

Thy 

good  HUSBAND. 


["  Since  a  month  ago,  when  Minna  retttrned  while  we  had  guests  in  the 
house,  it  had  to  come  to  a  final  decision.  .  .  The  most  unheard-of  scenes  and 
tortures  never  ceased  for  me,  and  out  of  consideration  for  tJic  one  as  for 
the  oilier,  I  finally  had  to  make  up  my  mind  to  give  up  the  fair  asvlum 
once  procured  me  "with  such  delicate  affection"  (to  sister  Llara,  Aug.  20). 
'••However  insensately  and  passionately  she  behaved  in  tiic  most  delicate 
situations,  I  cannot  after  all  be  really  wroth  ^cvith  her.  Everyone  suffers 
in  his  own  way,  and  she  suffers — in  hers  ;  but  she  suffers,  and  did  suffer 
most  acutely.  Only  think  of  a  heart  continually  beating  as  never  with  an 
ordinary  person  save  in  instant  terror  of  death  ;  and  added  to  it,  almost 
total  sleeplessness  for  a  wlwle  year  !  It  is  impossible  to  make  anyone  who 
suffers  such  agonies  responsible  for  what  is  done  in  semi-mania.  But  it 
had  at  last  become  unbearable  for  us  to  be  together.  To  be  able  to  exist,  / 
ivas  obliged  to  draw  a  fresh  supfily  of  strength  from  solitude.  ;  and  Minna, 
too,  1  knew  that  change  and  possible  diversion  must  do  her  good"  (to  sister 
Cdcilie  next  January).  Sec  Life  vi,  etc.,  etc. —  Tr.~] 


FROM    GENEVA  357 

142. 

GENEVA,    19.  August  1858. 

MY  GOOD  MINNA, 

I  have  just  received  your  telegram  of  to-day,  and 
at  once  fulfil  your  wish  that  I  should  write  to  you. 

0  my  God  !   had  I  only  the  power  to  let  you  look  into 
my  inner  heart  and  clearly  see  my  sufferings  and  battlings 
of  this  year  to  win  repose  for  my  life-task  !      In  vain  :   all 
stormed  and  tossed  around  me,  all  passion  and  blind  rage  ; 
and  whatever  I  laboriously  built  up  to  safeguard  peace  and 
quietness,    came    toppling    down    again. — You,    my    dear 
child,  can  make  light  of  all  that  :    you  help   yourself  out 
with  reproaches,  perceive  none  but  your  own  misfortune. 
I  am  juster  :   I  lay  reproaches  on  no  one,  nor — of  a  truth 

— on  yourself.  Much  was  required  of  you,  and  in  your 
terribly  tormented  state  of  health,  too  much.  So  let  us 
part  in  peace  and  reconciliation  now,  each  to  go  his  own 
way  for  a  season,  to  win  composure  and  fresh  mustering 
of  strength.  For  my  own  part,  solitude,  removal  from  all 
company,  is  now  an  indispensable  condition  of  my  life  ; 
the  dearest  society,  even  such  as  we  lately  had  at  home 
[the  Biilows],  only  tortures  me. 

1  am  bleeding  from  many  wounds,   and  heartfelt  con- 
cern for  yourself  is  not  their  slightest.      Further,  I  feel  the 
urgent  need  of  winding  up  a  whole  life  ;    I  must  clear  my 
mind   on   much    that    has  passionately  moved  me  in  this 
latter  time,  and  above  all  I  must  take  undisturbed  counsel 
with  myself  how  to  find  peace  and  quiet  for  completion  of 
those   works   I    still   may   be  appointed    to  deliver  to  the 
world.       Where    last    year    I    believed   that   I    had   found 
asylum,  it  is  impossible  any  longer  ;   years   would  need   to 
elapse,  before  everything  had   cleared  and  subsided.      For 
the  present,  I  have  but  one  need,  as  said  :   to  be  left  alone 


358  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

and  long  in  undisturbed  possession  of  my  inner  self  ;  any 
contact  from  without  confuses  and  confounds  afresh.  A 
little  outward  distraction,  such  as  the  visiting  of  a  re- 
markable city  and  so  forth,  can  only  be  a  help  toward 
that  :  I  can  more  easily  be  alone  and  without  company 
there  ;  whereas  it  would  have  been  impossible  in  the  long 
run  where  we  were  last.  Thus  I  hope  for — inner  con- 
valescence and  emancipation  ;  and  once  the  mood  for 
work  returns  to  me,  I  shall  be  rescued,  since  my  solace  in 
this  life  can  only  flow  from  my  own  inner  being. 

L/ay  this  to  heart,  my  dear  Minna,  and  if  you  wish  to 
support  me  in  my  necessary  and  salutary  resolve,  please 
do  not  make  my  heart  too  heavy  through  your  cries  and 
lamentations.  I  know  you  are  more  dependent  upon 
what  comes  to  you  from  without,  so  to  speak,  and  conse- 
quently more  a  plaything  of  the  chance  and  change  of 
outward  fortunes  ;  therefore  you  have  a  very  hard  time 
with  me,  who  am  often  so  indifferent  and  callous  to  life's 
outward  relations  :  but  do  obey  me  now,  and  hope  with 
me  for  improvement  in  your  state  of  suffering  by  the 
thorough  change  of  scene  which  stands  before  you.  It  is 
natural  that  you  should  refuse  to  believe  it  at  present,  but 
I  know  better,  and  all  who  have  the  least  experience  of 
such  a  thing  know  that  your  stay  in  Germany,  the  renewal 
of  old  acquaintanceships,  the  distractions  and  art-enjoy- 
ments now  in  store  for  you,  will  have  a  more  beneficial 
effect  on  you  than  anything  else  conceivable.  For  this 
reason,  too,  I  can  now  depart  from  you  with  a  grain  of  com- 
fort :  /  know  I  shall  receive  good  and  better  news  from  you 
in  a  little  while.  Any  other  expedient  would  have  proved 
inadequate  ;  a  radical  step  such  as  this  had  to  be  taken 
perforce.  So  ma}'  God  bless  you,  my  good  old  Minna  ! 
Be  strong  and  win  self-control  ;  bear  this  trial  nobly  and 


FROM    GENEVA  359 

as  befits  the  character  of  Woman  !  Thus  shall  we  be 
able  soon,  I  hope,  to  send  one  another  good  news  of  our 
inner  condition. 

Let  us  patiently  leave  the  rest  to  Fate  ;  if  we  only 
can  rescue  our  inner  peace,  the  world  without  will  also 
shape  itself  quite  peaceably. — 

And  now  I  beg  you  once  more,  shorten  this  worst 
hour  of  yours  as  much  as  possible  ;  only  with  great  grief 
can  I  think  of  you  as  still  within  those  walls  which  saw 
us  at  the  last  so  frequently  in  passionate  dissension,  and  I 
therefore  also  was  so  glad  to  quit.  Set  forth  as  soon  as 
possible. 

As  to  my  own  farther  journey,  I  can't  well  settle 
anything  as  yet.  The  great  heat  is  against  one's  going 
straight  to  Italy,  where  I  should  like  to  be  soon,  however, 
to  find  the  point  to  fix  myself  as  speedily  as  possible  and 
get  to  work.  I  intend  waiting  for  Ritter's  opinion. 
Meanwhile,  I  have  letters  to  write,  proofs  to  correct,  and 
a  copy  of  my  text  to  see  to  ;  which  gives  me  a  certain 
amount  of  occupation.  I  should  be  unable  to  tax  myself 
much  just  yet,  there's  an  aching  weight  in  all  my  limbs  ; 
but — rest  will  come  !  Ah,  if  you  would  only  help  me  to 
it  also  !  You  can,  if  you  will  write  me  shortly  with  a 
little  self-control,  and  tell  me  you  are  on  the  road  I 
deem  so  needful  and  alone  essential  now  for  your  inner 
recovery.  Believe  my  word,  dear  Minna,  had  I  not  been 
inwardly  convinced  that  the  decision  I  have  had  to  come 
to  will  be  wholesome  and  beneficial  to  yourself  as  well,  I 
gladly  would  have  hit  upon  some  other.  But  everything 
had  been  exhausted,  we  were  wearing  each  other  away, 
and  a  break  was  obliged  to  be  made  for  its  promise  of 
thorough  healing  and  improvement.  If  you  are  not 
totally  unlike  myself,  you  must  also  come  to  feel  that 


360  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

in  the  end  :    I  cannot  help  it,  only  thus  do  I  expect  good 
for  us  both  ! 

And  now  farewell,  you  good  old  Mutz  !  Greet  Fipsel 
a*  thousand  times  ;  I  left  him  to  you  willingly,  although  I 
miss  him  very  much.  But — -miss  I  must  now  !  Greet 
Jacquot  too,  and  tell  him  good  of  me.  Farewell  ;  control 
yourself,  and  tell  me,  for  my  consolation,  that  you  are 
calmer.  Adieu  :  with  God  ! 

Thy 
RICHARD. 


143. 

GENEVA,  25.  August  1858. 

DEAR   MINNA, 

I  telegraphed  to  you  yesterday  that  I  should  be 
starting  for  Italy  to-day  ;  that  is  now  about  to  be 
executed,  and  I  hope  to  be  already  at  Venice  by  Sunday 
[29th].  In  and  for  itself,  my  chief  desire  is  to  make 
straight  for  the  spot  where  I  think  of  settling  for  some 
time,  arrange  myself  a  tolerable  abode,  get  the  piano  sent, 
and  find  at  last  a  frame  of  mind  for  work  again.  Geneva 
could  in  no  case  have  been  that  spot  for  long,  and  Venice 
principally  attracts  me  through  its  notoriously  being  the 
only  city  that  hasn't  the  smallest  noise  of  traffic,  to  which 
I  have  become  extremely  sensitive.  Well,  you  know  I 
was  only  delaying  on  account  of  the  heat  of  the  sun  ;  but 
Karl  Ritter  implores  me  afresh  not  to  make  that  an 
obstacle  :  Venice  has  an  exceptionally  healthy  climate, 
he  says,  and  most  people  go  there  precisely  at  this  season, 
etc.  That  suited  me  perfectly  ;  for  I  couldn't  have 
remained  here  much  longer  without  setting  myself  up  with 
piano  etc.,  which  I  didn't  want  to  do  twice  over.  Now 
I'm  curious  to  see  how  this  Venice  will  appeal  to  me  ; 


FROM    GENEVA  361 

God  grant  I  may  find  it  supportable,  for  I  shouldn't  care 
to  travel  farther,  and  mental  repose,  such  as  my  work 
alone  can  give  me,  has  become  my  supreme  need. 

I  have  been  feeling  particularly  wretched  for  some 
days  past,  especially  after  receiving  your  letter,  which 
shewed  me  that  it  probably  will  forever  remain  impossible 
to  you  to  see  clearly  and  correctly.  With  you,  a  definite 
blame  must  and  .should  always  be  borne  by  a  definite 
person  ;  you  do  not  comprehend  the  nature  of  things  and 
Fate,  but  simply  think  that  if  this  person  or  that  thing 
had  never  been,  all  would  have  happened  otherwise. 
Upon  that  I  can  say  nothing  more  to  you  ;  others  must  do 
so  for  once  :  Heaven  grant  you  may  find  the  proper  person 
to  enlighten  you.  It  also  is  repugnant  to  me  to  make  a 
fresh  attempt,  and  I  merely  declare  once  more  to  you 
emphatically  that  nothing  drove  me  to  abandon  Zurich  be- 
yond the  recognised  impossibility  of  continuing  in  that  close 
neighbourship.  Things  could  be  requested  of  the  husband 
by  his  wife  which  you  and  I  can  request  of  him  no  more  : 
so  long  as  silence  reigned  between  the  four  of  us,  under 
well-understood  conditions  of  propriety,  one  could  jog 
along  ;  but  so  soon  as  it  had  come  to  speech  between  the 
four  of  us,  that  would  work  no  longer.  He  accepted  my 
announcement  of  removal  with  the  greatest  friendliness 
and  gratitude — but  he  did  accept  it  ;  and  I  also  was  in 
honour  bound  to  go,  since  every  other  road  to  a  good 
understanding  shewed  itself  harder  and  harder. — But 
enough,  and  already  too  much  !  You'll  go  fumbling  at 
this  again,  I  fear,  and  fail  to  find  your  way.  Best  we 
should  drop  it  entirely  and  each  seek  to  conquer  his  past 
for  himself,  thus  to  find  for  the  future  the  only  path  that 
promises  repose  and  healing  !— 

Regarding   yourself  in    particular,   I   abide  by   it  that 


362  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

you  will  gradually  feel  better  after  your  total  removal 
from  Zurich  ;  it  will  be  slow  in  coming,  but  come  it  will. 
Your  heart-complaint  is  terrible,  and  I  can't  tell  you 
how  I  pity  you  in  these  sufferings  ;  -but  everybody  knows 
that  change  of  air  and  surroundings  is  the  first  means 
to  improvement.  Remember  how  it  is  when  a  certain 
position  in  bed  begins  to  irk  you  :  if  you  remain  in  it, 
the  oppression  increases,  and  may  even  become  fatal  ;  but 
as  soon  as  you  change  your  position,  and  so  bring  the  blood 
into  proper  circulation,  it  is  relieved  of  a  sudden.  It  is 
just  the  same  with  moral  situations  ;  believe  me,  and  hope 
for  improvement  ! 

By  the  time  I  reach  Venice  I  hope  to  have  to  address 
you  at  Zurich  no  longer.  Therefore  as  soon  as  the  day 
of  your  departure  is  fixed,  write  to  Venice  paste  restante  ; 
my  first  letter  to  you  from  there  will  then  catch  you, 
I  hope,  on  your  birthday  in  Saxony — at  Zwickau,  if  it 
must  be  :  against  which  place  I  have  nothing  in  particular, 
though  it  would  have  been  better  if  you  had  gone  direct 
to  Dresden,  taken  a  small  apartment  there,  and  let  N. 
return  awhile — on  trial — to  leave  someone  in  charge  of 
the  animals  in  the  event  of  your  making  excursions  and 
visits.  But  I  shall  dictate  nothing  further  to  you  on  that 
head. 

What  Tichatscheck  may  have  understood  when  I  wrote 
him  we  were  leaving  Zurich,  packing  up  and  selling 
trifles,  I  cannot  comprehend  ;  he  wrote  to  me  as  well 
about  the  pictures  and  the  Erard.  Do  you  think  he  isn't 
quite  all  there  ?  I  shall  answer  him  as  soon  as  I  get  his 
report  on  Rienzi.  Of  course  you'll  take  no  notice  of  this 
stupid  query  ;  I  particularly  want  our  departure  from 
Zurich  not  to  bear  the  look  of  a  breaking  up,  but  simply 
of  a  removal  with  everything  kept  together.— 


FROM    GENEVA  363 

Now  farewell,  my  good  old  Mutz  !  Would  to  God  I 
had  been  able  to  provide  you  with  quieter  days  !  I  am 
very  sorry  for  you,  and  my  compassion  is  heartfelt  and 
great  ;  I  indeed  have  a  singular  life  of  it  :  that  it  brings 
you  so  much  trouble,  I  deeply  deplore  !  But  put  your 
best  foot  forward  now  :  act  calmly  and  with  dignity,  shew 
self-command,  and  soon  give  me  good  news  of  yourself. 
Farewell  !  Bear  patiently,  and — God  be  with  you  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

Many  kind  greetings  to  Heim  :  tell  him  he  mustn't 
be  cross  with  me  for  throwing  so  much  upon  him,  and  I 
hope  to  be  able  to  lighten  his  load  before  long.  Please 
also  give  orders  at  the  Post  that  newspapers  and  the  like, 
such  as  theatrical  journals,  be  either  altogether  counter- 
manded or  sent  to  Heim  ;  in  no  case  forwarded. 

Give  Friedrich  and  Lisette  hearty  greetings  too  ;  say 
I  want  them  faithfully  to  help  you.  O  God,  to  think 
how  everything  might  have  gone  better  !  It  was  possible  ; 
but — I  won't  expostulate.  To  good  Fipsel  a  thorough 
good  shake  of  the  paw. 

Conceive  the  present  feelings  of  a  domesticated,  homely 
man  like  me  !  And  yet — it  must  be  so  awhile  !  Farewell  ! 

The  poor  bed-clothes  I  always  meet  with,  pampered 
mortal,  inspire  me  with  the  wish  that  you  would  send  my 
bed-linen  along  with  that  packet  of  music  I  asked  you 
for.  Please  think  whether  it  can  be  done.  The  piano 
mustn't  go  off  before  I  have  obtained  a  free  pass  for  it  at 
Venice,  which  I  then  will  send  to  Heim. 

Perhaps  the  wadded  quilt  also,  and  feather-bed.  Just 
as  you  think. — 

(Yet  perhaps  not?) 


364  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

144. 

LAUSANNE,  26.  August  1858. 

DEAR  MINNA, 

I  am  on  the  road,  and  can  only  just  manage  to 
write  you  a  couple  of  lines  ;  I  shall  be  on  Italian  soil 
tomorrow  evening.  I  forgot  to  tell  you  yesterday  that 
Tichatscheck  had  written  me  he  would  allow  Friedrich 
10  thaler  travelling-money.  What  he  writes  about  the 
pictures  etc.  is,  pure  nonsense  in  any  case. 

—Yesterday  I  received  another  letter  from  Kapell- 
meister Esser  of  Vienna,  reporting  to  me  on  the  second 
representation  of  L/ohengrin  already  ;  he  says  Eckert 
telegraphed  me  directly  after  the  first  performance.  Did 
you  receive  that  telegram  ?  I  know  nothing  whatever 
about  it. 

And  now  farewell  once  more.  I  am  travelling  with 
Ritter  alone  ;  his  wife  is  going  to  Dresden  also  for  the 
winter.  Farewell  !  be  calm,  and  bravely  surmount  this 
evil  time  !  Many  best  and  heartiest  greetings  ! 

Thy 

RICHARD. 


145. 

VENICE,  i.  September  1858. 

MY    DEAR    GOOD    OLD    MUTZ, 

Here  I  am  in  Venice  ;  where  are  you  ?  I  con- 
fidently assume  at  Zwickau,  but  my  having  no  tidings 
at  all  from  you  yet  makes  me  very  uneasy.  After  my 
telegraphing  to  you  from  Geneva,  couldn't  you  at  least 
have  written  me  a  couple  of  lines,  as  I  asked,  to  Venice 
paste  restante  f  I  arrived  here  the  29th  of  August,  and 
really  hoped  to  find  a  letter  from  you,  but  have  enquired 
each  day  in  vain.  To-day  I'm  at  last  getting  really 


FROM    VENICE  365 

alarmed.  You  have  a  bad  time  to  surmount  now,  and 
certainly  for  you  a  very  sad  one  ;  I  begged  of  you  to 
shorten  it  as  much  as  possible,  so  I  still  think  you  must 
have  started  on  the  29th,  since  you  had  that  day  in 
remembrance  from  your  [first]  arrival  in  Zurich.  God 
grant  I  ma}'  have  a  letter  from  you  tomorrow  confirming 
this,  and  at  the  same  time  telling  me  you  have  pulled 
your  whole  strength  together  to  face  everything  well.  I 
have  nothing  fresh  to  tell  you  to  console  and  cheer  you  ; 
all  I  can  cry  to  you  is,  Hope  and  don't  lose  heart  !  See 
here,  poor  Wife,  your  destiny — which  surely  should  have 
been  appointed  you  on  calmer  and  more  even  lines — was 
linked  with  the  destiny  of  a  man  who,  much  as  he  also 
wished  for  placid  happiness  himself,  yet  was  appointed  to 
so  extraordinary  a  development  in  every  respect  that  at 
last  he  believes  he  must  even  renounce  his  own  wishes, 
simply  to  accomplish  his  life-task.  All  I  now  seek  is 
inner  self-collection,  to  be  able  to  complete  my  works  : 
renown  no  longer  has  effect  on  me  ;  of  succeeding  in 
representing  my  works  \_Ring  d,  N.  ]  I  even  despair : 
nothing — nothing — but  work,  the  creative  act  itself,  still 
keeps  me  alive.  It  is  natural  that  so  extraordinary  a 
destiny  should  also  rouse  extraordinary  sympathy  ;  there 
are  many  persons  who  have  turned  to  me  with  deep  and 
intimate  regard.  \lyou  must  suffer  for  it,  those  sufferings 
will  some  day  be  accounted  to  you  too,  and  your  reward 
must  be — my  prospering,  the  prospering  of  my  works. 
Just  now,  however — let  us  not  be  thinking  only  of  the 
future  ;  let  us  try  to  get  over  the  present,  and  hope  to  find 
rest  for  ourselves  and  prepare  for  one  another  kindness, 
reconciliation. — 

Allow  me  not  to  write  you  much  about  Venice  to-day  ; 
I'm  terribly  upset  by  the  journey,  and  particularly  through 


366  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

the  search  for  an  abode.  Before  I've  set  myself  up  so 
well  and  comfortably  as  to  make  it  possible  to  hold  out,  I 
cannot  recover  my  senses  ;  you  know  how  much  the 
dwelling  question  counts  with  me,  and  I  must  aim  at 
staying  glued  to  one  spot  for  the  present,  to  be  able 
to  continue  my  work.  Naturally  I  am  living  in  furnished 
apartments  ;  there  are  no  others  here.  My  landlord  is  an 
Austrian,  who  was  very  happy  to  give  shelter  to  my 
famous  name.  All  such  lodgings  here  are  in  big  palaces 
relinquished  by  their  former  patrician  owners,  and  arranged 
by  speculators  for  letting  out  to  foreigners.  But  I  will 
write  you  on  all  that  next  time.  For  to-day  only  thus 
much  :  I  hope  to  hold  out  at  Venice  ;  really  the  city 
is  interesting  beyond  all  measure,  and  the  positive  still- 
ness— one  never  hears  a  vehicle — quite  priceless  to  me. 
I  am  receiving  no  callers,  and  hope  to  live  entirely  with- 
drawn upon  myself  here.  For  the  present  I  see  Karl 
at  dinner  every  day,  for  which  we  have  made  a  restaurant 
on  St.  Mark's  Square  our  rendezvous  ;  should  that  prove 
inconvenient  to  me  later  on,  I  can  also  have  meals  fetched 
at  home.  Things  do  not  really  seem  dear  ;  only  the 
lodging  is  not  proportionately  cheap.  I  am  just  writing 
to  Heim,  to  send  me  the  piano  forthwith  ;  there  will 
be  no  imposts  to  pay  on  it,  were  it  only  because  Venice  is 
a  free  port.  No  doubt  I  shan't  require  the  sheets  and 
bedding  ;  naturally  I  must  content  myself  with  coarser. 

Now,  my  dear  Minna,  accept  my  heartfelt  and  sincere 
congratulations  on  your  birthday  !  Poor  Wife,  I  could 
have  wished  you  a  better  ;  yet  it  is  some  consolation  that 
at  least  you're  spending  it  with  your  relations,  as  4  years 
back.  That  did  you  then  a  heap  of  good  ;  may  it  be 
a  comfort  to  you  on  this  occasion  also  !  Give  them  my 
kindest  regards  ;  divert  yourself  among  them,  and  en- 


FROM    VENICE  367 

deavour  to  forget  as  far  as  possible  !  Look  up,  and  hope 
that  we  shall  meet  again  in  Germany  ere  long.  I  am 
sending  you  a  true  Venetian  present,  as  souvenir  of  this 
birthday  ;  I  hope  it  won't  arrive  too  late.  So,  courage, 
composure,  regard  for  your  health  !  If  you  want  to  send 
a  truly  handsome  present  to  me  in  my  banishment,  give 
me  tidings  that  you  are  somewhat  amusing  yourself 
and  deriving  hopes  of  an  improvement  in  your  sufferings. 
Farewell  ;  be  a  thousand  times  heartily,  heartily  greeted  ! 
And  greet  good  Fipps,  and  eke  the  silly  parrot,  Mr 
Jacquot  !  I,  on  the  contrary,  am  living  in  a  world  of 
utter  strangers  ;  nothing  around  me  save  my  manuscripts, 
to  shew  me  what  I've  still  to  do  and — suffer  !  You  have 
taken  our  home-brownies  with  you  ;  look  after  them, 
they're  very  dear  to  me  as  well.  Adieu  !  Adieu  !  Stay 
good  to  me. 

Thy 

RICHARD. 

Here's  my  address,  which  you  must  always  get  written 
in  a  thoroughly  legible  hand. 

Herrn  Richard   Wagner, 

Canale   Grande,   Palazzo   Giustiniani, 

Campiello  Squillini  No.    3228, 
in    Venedig. 


146. 

VENICE,  14.  September  1858. 

MY    POOR    DEAR    OLD    MlNNA, 

Rest  assured  that  your  condition  and  fate  concern  me 
closely  and  deeply.  Before  I  got  your  first  paste  restante 
Venice  letter  (still  from  Zurich)  I  was  in  the  most  painful 
anxiety  about  you  ;  how  glad  I  was  when  I  gathered  from 


368  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

that  letter  that  your  practical  labours  and  worries  were 
keeping  you  up  !  Yes,  with  true  relish  I  read  of  your 
scene  with  that  rascally  man-servant,  and  even  your 
reflections  upon  certain  others  ;  all  this  shewed  me  at 
least  that  you  were  passing  through  the  terrible  time 
of  your  departure  with  that  strength  peculiar  to  yourself : 
which  is  certainly  not  to  say,  however,  that  the  vul- 
garities you  encountered  on  leaving — as  you  tell  me  in 
your  last  letter — did  not  revolt  and  thoroughly  ashame 
me.  But  who  can  foresee  anything  with  an  individual  like 
this  fly-man  Furrer  ?  Others  at  least  remained  decent, 
in  the  confidence  that  I  should  not  cheat  them.  Perhaps 
it  would  have  been  better  in  many  respects,  if  we  had 
simply  closed  the  house  and  provisionally  left  everything 
in  it  just  as  it  was.  I  should  then  have  been  able  to 
attend  to  the  packing  up  etc.  later  on,  and  even  if  I 
hadn't  been  so  practical  as  yourself  in  the  sale  of  various 
articles,  and  had  lost  something  over  it,  yet  you  would 
have  been  spared  more  drudgery  and  bother  now  than  the 
loss  would  have  been  worth,  and  above  all  there  would  not 
have  arisen  such  a  fuss  as  necessarily  must  come  now  ; 
which  would  also  have  been  much  more  favourable  for  my 
[future]  settling  down.  You  will  remember,  too,  I  once 
proposed  this  to  you  ;  but  you  preferred  getting  it  all  done 
with  at  once.  As  for  the  chatter  among  those  who  have 
still  to  present  their  accounts  for  the  current  year,  I  hope 
to  stop  their  mouths  soon  ;  now  that  Rienzi  has  come  out 
[again]  so  happily  at  Dresden  (Tichatscheck  wrote  me  he 
had  been  called  14  times  in  one  night  !),  I  have  no  doubt 
of  speedy  good  receipts  [from  other  theatres],  which  I 
already  am  busy  about  and  soon  will  place  me  in  the 
position  to  wipe  off  everything.  I  was  just  rejoicing  that 
a  small  increase  had  befallen  your  exchequer  through  the 


FROM    VENICE  369 

proceeds  from  what  was  sold  ;  but  you  must  have  had 
to  dip  pretty  deep  into  it  now,  poor  woman,  and  perhaps 
even  make  a  hole  in  the  rest  ?  Please  tell  me  how  much 
you  have  left,  and  whether  you  can  manage  comfortably 
till  the  end  of  October,  when  you  shall  have  money  again 
in  any  event.  I  shall  pay  that  Furrer  out  for  this  ;  don't 
you  bother  any  more  about  it. 

My  dear  good  Minna,  when  I  thus  review  the  uneasy, 
almost  mournful  lot  to  which  you've  so  long  been  exposed 
by  my  side  and  through  your  union  with  my  own  uneasy, 
changeful  fortunes  ;  and  when  I  ask  myself,  What  if  you 
could  provide  and  guarantee  the  poor  sorely-tried  woman 
for  the  rest  of  her  life  a  sure,  abiding  haven  unexposed  to 
change — it  seems  to  me  that  I  could  only  do  it  this  way  : 
that  I  should  beg  you  to  take  plenty  of  time  in  seeking 
out  the  place  of  residence  most  pleasing  to  you,  set  yourself 
snugly  and  cosily  up  there  with  all  our  goods  and  chattels, 
and  then  regard  it  as  your  own  fixed  habitation.  Thither  I 
would  come  to  you  as  often  as  I  needed  a  home  ;  and  for 
the  rest,  quite  apart  from  my  personal  needs  of  sojourn,  it 
would  be  your  peaceful  nest  to  which  I  also  could  withdraw 
at  last  when  all  the  storms  of  life  were  weathered,  to  find 
my  lasting  rest  beneath  your  care.  In  any  case  that 
dwelling-place  should  remain  completely  unsubjected  to 
my  fate's  vagaries.  I  cannot  help  thinking  this  arrange- 
ment the  most  sensible,  ay,  the  only  one  to  give  you 
certainty  of  permanence. — However,  I  know  that  it  isn't  the 
dwelling-place  that  counts  for  everything  with  you  either  ; 
you  want  to  have  your  husband  with  you  just  as  con- 
stantly :  ay,  that  has  been  your  sole  reason  for  enduring 
all  life's  hardships  of  the  past.  Consequently  I  neither 
can  nor  will  make  you  this  proposal  seriously,  for  I 
want  to  wound  you  in  nothing  I  can  avoid  ;  you  have  had 
VOL.  i  24 


370  RICHARD    TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

hard  enough  lines  to  endure  from  me,   for  which   I   am 
heartily  sorry  ! 

I  too,  I  won't  deny  it,  at  bottom  am  fond  of  a 
permanent  homestead  ;  and  how  to  procure  it,  has  been 
my  chief  preoccupation  of  late.  Neither  can  I  believe 
that  a  strictly  vagabond  life  would  suit  me  in  the  long 
run.  Our  going  different  ways  was  really  needful  for  the 
present,  and  I  haven't  a  moment's  doubt  that  our  passing 
separation,  with  the  complete  change  in  our  position,  will 
have  had  a  truly  curative  effect  on  our  minds,  and  also 
on  your  health  in  particular.  I  made  a  very  lucky  choice 
with  Venice  :  I  shall  write  you  circumstantially  about  my 
mode  of  life  and  installation  here  next  time  ;  for  to-day 
merely  thus  much  :  the  singular  melancholy-cheerful 
repose  of  this  place,  with  the  absolute  retirement  in  which 
I'm  able  and  intend  to  live  here,  already  begins  to 
strengthen  and  smooth  me  out,  and  in  any  case  I  hope 
to  pass  the  winter  here.  By  the  winter's  end  I  definitely 
hope  to  finish  Tristan  quite  ;  till  then  I  shall  not  stir. 
But  once  that's  finished,  I  shall  look  around  a  bit  to  see 
how  the  world  is  standing  ;  and  I  hope  to  find  it  standing 
favourably  for  me.  Whatever  may  be  the  case  with  the 
full  amnesty,  so  much  is  certain  :  the  Grand  Duke  of 
Baden  in  particular  has  received  from  Saxony  the  assur- 
ance that  I  shall  be  allowed  at  any  time  to  come  to 
Germany  for  a  reasonable  time  for  the  production  of  a  new 
work  of  mine  ;  Liszt  himself  writes  me  so.  That  would 
mean  the  gaining  of  the  most  important  point  already, 
and  the  production  of  Tristan  somewhere  about  next 
Easter  at  Carlsruhe  in  my  personal  presence  would  be  a 
certainty.  Isn't  that  already  something?  And  once  I 
am  there  for  a  couple  of  months  (for  that's  the  suggestion) 
no  rational  being  will  doubt  but  that  the  rest  can  be 


FROM    VENICE  371 

managed  meanwhile  ;  toward  which  I  even  imagine  my 
personal  acquaintance  may  contribute  its  share.  This, 
good  Mutz,  might  have  been  happening  now,  had  I  only 
got  through  with  the  Tristan.  But  perhaps  even  the  full 
amnesty  may  have  arrived  by  next  Easter,  for  I  recently 
heard  that  the  Saxon  Government  harbours  a  project  of 
provisionally  commencing  the  amnesty  by  permitting 
fugitives  to  re-enter  any  part  of  Germany  with  the  solitary 
exception  of  Saxony.  I  no  longer  have  much  thought  of 
Saxony,  however,  for  that  country  best  would  suit  me 
for  a  lasting  foothold  where  the  Court  is  best  disposed 
towards  me — and  this,  beyond  all  doubt,  is  Baden.  This 
young  Grand  Duke  is  said  to  be  really  unceasing  in  the 
most  energetic  of  efforts  for  me,  and  it  is  he — not  the 
Weimar  one — who  is  said  to  have  concerned  himself  for 
me  at  Vienna.  With  his  widely-famed  great  personal 
amiability  and  staunchness,  he  attracts  me  the  most  ; 
whilst  worthy  Devrient's  family  would  also  be  very  agree- 
able to  me. 

See  now,  good  Mutz,  that  really  is  a  definite  prospect, 
and  surely  a  great  comfort  to  yourself  as  well.  You  thus 
ma}'  count  with  certainty  on  seeing  me  again  next  Easter, 
and — God  willing — we  shall  then  have  no  difficulty  in 
also  finding  the  spot  where  you  may  plant  the  abiding 
tent  of  rest  for  this  roaming  life  of  mine. — Very  well  ! 
Recreate  yourself  till  then.  I  have  no  doubt  you  will 
soon  feel  better  ;  rest  and  retirement  will  heal  your  spirit 
also,  and  valiant  Troger's  treatment  will  help  you  pick 
up  your  health.  It  is  certain  that  your  bodily  condition, 
as  with  all  nerve-invalids,  is  very  closely  connected  with 
your  frame  of  mind  ;  once  there's  a  tendency  to  improve- 
ment in  the  one,  it  goes  hand  in  glove  with  the  other, 
and  I  am  sure  of  receiving  good,  comforting  reports  on 


372  RICHARD   TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

your  condition  soon.  Therefore  remain  at  perfect  rest 
with  your  relations  as  long  as  ever  you  find  yourself  com- 
fortable, and  don't  go  travelling  before  you  feel  a  decided 
need  of  distraction,  which  will  itself  be  a  good  sign  of 
improvement.— 

Touching  myself,  in  my  next  letter,  as  said,  I  shall 
tell  you  a  lot  about  my  life  here.  For  the  present  merely 
this — to  complete  my  Tristan,  that's  the  main  thing  ! 
With  the  completion  of  this  work  I  shall  have  survived 
a  remarkable  period  ;  I  foresee  the  clearness,  calm  and 
equanimity,  which  that  will  win  me. — Farewell.  A  thou- 
sand hearty  greetings  to  good  Troger  and  your  people  ; 
squeeze  Fipps'  dear  little  paw,  and  get  Jacquot  to  say  : 
' '  yet  a  good  Husband 

RICHARD  WAGNF;R."* 

147. 

VENICE,  28.  September  1858. 

MY  POOR  GOOD  MUTZ, 

Hearty  thanks  for  your  letters,  the  first  of  which 
crossed  my  last  to  you.  You  still  have  to  report  un- 
pleasantnesses that  have  occurred  to  you,  and  thereby 
afford  me  great  regret  and  continual  cause  for  legitimate 
self-reproaches.  May  that  soon  alter,  and  you  have 
nothing  to  report  but  soothing  and  agreeable  impressions  ! 
That  is  my  heartfelt  wish,  and  what  /  can  do  toward 
realising  it,  I  certainly  shall.  Only  in  one  hardship 
endured  I  cannot  pity  you  ;  for  your  travelling  third  class 
on  that  long  journey  I  am  at  a  loss  for  words  !  Don't 
take  it  ill  of  me,  but  I  consider  that  more  than  absurd  : 


*  Apparently  an  allusion  to  the  parrot's  traditional  "  Boser  Richard, 
arme  Minna!"  which  it  must  have  picked  tip  Irom  that  superfluous 
Natalie. — Tr. 


FROM    VENICE  373 

your  motive  for  such  self-tortures  and  abasements  makes 
no  appeal  to  me  ;  I  know  I'm  not  to  blame  for  such 
exaggerations,  but  am  doing  all  I  can  to  hold  privations 
of  that  sort  aloof  from  you,  which,  comparatively  speak- 
ing, don't  even  yield  a  perceptible  saving.  In  such-like 
things,  and  there  are  many  of  them,  I  cannot  truly  pity 
you  ;  for  a  certain  stubbornness  on  your  side,  in  which 
there  lurks  a  dumb  rebuke  of  me,  is  solely  to  blame  for 
them.  Forgive  me,  you  deserved  the  tiny  sermon  ! 

As  for  that  scoundrel  Furrer,  I  demand  that  he  shall 
ask  your  pardon  ;  I  hear  from  Heim  that  his  conduct 
roused  universal  indignation.  *  For  that  matter,  the  whole 
town  behaved  pretty  disgustingly  ;  Heim  told  me  that,  to 
account  for  my  unexpected  departure,  they  stumbled  on 
the  idea  that  I  had  left  Zurich  on  account  of  excessive 
indebtedness.  Well  as  it  might  suit  us  for  people  not  to 
guess  the  actual  reason,  really  this  belief  was  stupid  and 
low  enough,  especially  as  various  tradesmen  might  have 
stepped  forward  to  whom  I  had  paid  considerable  sums  in 
full  this  year  for  our  furnishing.  But  a  perfect  panic 
seems  to  have  seized  those  who  had  yet  to  present  their 
annual  accounts,  and  Heim  couldn't  send  me  the  piano 
because  legal  distraint  had  been  laid  on  our  things  by 
these  asses.  Naturally  it  only  needed  my  simple  declara- 
tion that  I  acknowledged  the  claims  in  question,  and 
should  pay  them  at  New  Year,  to  put  an  end  to  the 
proceedings  ;  particularly  as  it  had  been  discovered  mean- 
while, of  course,  that  no  one  else  had  claims  on  me  and 
the  whole  thing  was  a  blind  alarm.  Consequently  public 


*  The  man  is  said  to  have  driven  Minna  to  his  own  yard,  instead  of 
the  railway  station,  and  refused  to  deliver  up  her  luggage  till  she  had 
settled  a  former  account  of  a  few  pounds  ;  at  least  that  is  the  local  tradition, 
and  something  like  it  evidently  occurred. — Tr. 


374          RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

opinion  has  been  corrected  also,  and  the  damage  rebounds 
on  the  rascals  who  had  bled  me  of  so  much  money  and  of 
a  sudden  behaved  so  abominably  that,  as  Heim  tells  me, 
they're  being  soundly  rated  for  it  now.  So  next  week 
I  expect  the  piano,  the  music,  and  the  bedding,  which  I 
missed,  to  tell  the  truth,  and  should  have  missed.  I  got 
the  key  all  right  ;  best  thanks. 

My  having  to  go  without  the  piano  so  long,  was  very 
provoking  to  me,  for  my  best  cordial  had  been  the  re- 
covery of  a  good  mood  for  resuming  my  work.  Of  late, 
however,  I've  been  occupied  enough  with  letter-writing. 
Naturally  I'm  trying  all  I  can  to  coin  Rienzi's  great 
success  at  Dresden  into  takings  [from  elsewhere],  and 
accordingly  have  been  inviting  all  the  theatres  I'm  friends 
with  to  acquire  this  opera  speedily.  On  the  whole  they 
seem  to  be  stand-off  and  distrustful  toward  this  older  work 
of  mine,  and  consider  its  success  is  merely  due  to  local 
interest  and  Tichatscheck.  Still,  a  few  good  examples 
will  encourage  the  rest  ;  Breslau  wants  it  shortly,  also 
Darmstadt.  Hanover  I  haven't  bagged  yet,  but  there's 
a  prospect  of  it  ;  and  by  the  new  year  I  may  hope  to 
have  polished  everybody  off  at  Zurich. 

And  now  to  speak  about  my  life  here.  Linking  on 
to  the  last  point,  I  won't  exactly  say  it's  very  cheap  ; 
which  can  scarcely  be  expected  en  garqon,  when  the 
setting  up  of  a  whole  establishment  always  costs  such  a 
large  amount  at  first.  A  small  unfurnished  lodging  was 
out  of  the  question  ;  they  are  only  to  be  found  in  the 
business  quarter  of  the  inner  city,  from  which  God  pre- 
serve me  !  Apart  from  those,  there  are  none  but  the 
furnished  apartments  in  palaces  bought  from  the  im- 
poverished old  nobili  and  fitted  up  by  speculators  for 
foreigners  who  visit  Venice  for  a  shorter  or  longer  time. 


FROM    VENICE  375 

After  long  search  I  had  to  think  myself  lucky  to  find 
something  of  the  kind  to  suit  me  at  last,  and  to  submit  to 
paying  more  than  I  had  anticipated. 

Like  all  such  apartments,  it  is  in  a  big  ancient  palace, 
with  wide  halls  and  spaces.  For  my  living  room  I  have 
an  enormous  saloon  looking  on  to  the  Grand  Canal ;  then 
a  very  roomy  bedchamber,  with  a  little  cabinet  beside  it 
for  a  wardrobe.  Fine  old  ceiling-paintings,  splendid  floors 
inlaid  with  magnificent  mosaic  ;  badly  distempered  walls 
(once  richly  tapestried,  no  doubt),  antique  furniture,  very 
elegant  in  appearance,  covered  with  red  cotton- velvet, 
but  very  rickety  and  miserably  stuffed  ;  nothing  quite  in 
working  order,  doors  not  shutting  properly,  all  somewhat 
the  worse  for  wear.  I  had  a  big  state-bed  removed  at 
once,  and  replaced  by  a  smaller  iron  bedstead  with  spring- 
mattress,  lyinen  so-so  ;  pillows  stuffed  with  wool  ;  for 
the  colder  season  a  foot-quilt  weighing  3  hundredweight. 
The  landlord,  an  Austrian,  is  delighted  to  have  me  in  his 
house,  and  does  all  he  can  to  satisfy  me  ;  I  have  contrived 
a  few  conveniences  myself,  arranged  a  passable  divan, 
fauteuil,  etc.  Things  now  will  do  quite  well,  and  the 
piano  is  sure  to  sound  glorious  in  my  big  saloon.  The 
want  of  air-tightness  in  windows  and  doors  is  said  to  be 
no  serious  drawback  even  in  winter  here.  The  climate 
and  the  air  are  really  heavenly  ;  a  regard  in  which 
Venice  is  said  to  be  one  of  the  most  favoured  of  places, 
far  more  so  than  Florence,  Rome,  or  even  Naples.  An 
agreeably  refreshing  East  wind  constantly  blows  from  the 
sea,  moderating  any  excessive  heat,  keeping  the  sky 
always  clear,  and  furnishing  beautiful  air.  For  a  whole 
month  we've  only  had  two  rainy  days,  and  only  one  at  a 
time.  Of  course,  one  never  sees  a  trace  of  drought,  as  the 
sea  keeps  the  air  always  moist.  I  still  go  about  in  full 


376          RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

summer  clothing,  and  that  of  an  evening,  not  until  when 
do  I  make  my  promenade. 

My  manner  of  life  is  as  follows  :  The  whole  day  till  4 
I  work — at  whatever  there  has  been  to  do  yet — then  I  get 
ferried  across  the  Canal,  walk  up  S.  Mark's  piazza,  meet 
Karl  there  at  5  in  the  restaurant,  where  I  dine  a  la  carte, 
well,  but  dear  (I  can  never  get  off  under  4  to  5  francs  !— 
without  wine,  too)  ;  after  dinner,  so  long  as  the  fine 
season  permits,  out  in  a  gondola  to  the  Public  Garden, 
promenade  there,  and  return  either  afloat  or  on  foot 
through  the  town  ;  then  another  promenade  on  shore 
for  the  length  of  the  Molo,  a  glass  of  ice  at  the  pavilion 
there,  and  then  home,  where  the  lamp  stands  lit  for  me  at 
8  ;  a  book  picked  up,  and  finally  to  bed.  So  I  have  been 
living  for  4  whole  weeks  now,  and  am  not  tired  of  it 
yet,  even  without  real  absorbing  \vork.  What  affords 
the  never-flagging  charm,  is  the  strange  contrast  of  my 
dwelling  with  the  part  that  serves  me  for  a  promenade  : 
here  all  still,  supremely  tranquil,  a  broad  track  of  lapping 
water  from  the  sea,  with  ebb  and  flow  ;  instead  of  carts 
and  horses,  gondolas  moored  to  the  houses'  very  doors  ; 
wonderful  palaces  in  front  and  everywhere,  all  lofty, 
silent,  melancholy.  Then  of  a  sudden,  on  one's  stepping 
forth,  mean  alleys  of  the  strangest  twists  and  crossings, 
often  scarcely  wide  enough  for  two  to  pass,  all  flanked 
with  open  shops  and  stalls  in  which  one  feels  as  if  upon 
the  pavement  ;  continually  flooded  with  a  stream  of  people 
one  only  needs  to  join,  when  without  the  smallest  notion 
of  topography  one  either  arrives  at  the  Rialto — the 
business  quarter — or  the  Square  of  S.  Mark,  where 
nobody  does  anything  but  promenade. 

The  amazing,  unique  and  quite  unparalleled  splendour 
of  this  Square,  and  everything  connected  with  it  down  to 


FROM    VENICE  377 

the  water's  brink,  is  not  to  be  described  ;  each  time  I 
reach  it  from  my  house,  the  whole  thing  staggers  me 
afresh.  By  all  means  I  must  send  you  some  good  pictures 
of  it  soon.  One  would  never  believe  one  was  in  the 
street,  if  only  since  it  all — there  being  no  horse  traffic — is 
paved  with  slabs  of  marble  just  like  some  great  prince's 
court.  (I've  a  bad  foot,  and  for  many  days  have  been  going 
out  in  my  slippers.)  Everything  strikes  one  as  a  mar- 
vellous piece  of  stage-scenery.  Here  it  is  one  continual 
surging  up  and  down,  everyone  doing  nothing  but  stroll 
and  amuse  himself.  This  peculiar  gaiety  never  fails  of 
its  effect  on  the  newcomer  ;  one  feels  at  ease,  and  the  eye 
is  perpetually  entertained.  For  myself  the  chief  charm 
consists  in  its  all  remaining  as  detached  from  me  as  if  I 
were  in  an  actual  theatre  ;  I  avoid  making  any  acquaint- 
ances, and  therefore  still  retain  the  feeling.  The  gondola 
trip  out  to  sea  always  has  an  extremely  soothing  and 
beneficial  effect  :  the  battle  in  the  sky  twixt  day  and 
night  is  glorious  ;  ever  new  isles  in  the  distance  to  keep 
the  fancy  alert  with  their  gardens,  churches,  palaces. 

In  brief,  I  believe  the  choice  of  Venice  was  the 
happiest  I  could  have  made  ;  for  there  was  everything  to 
fear  for  me  if  I  had  not  lit  on  such  an  element,  if  I  had 
felt  uncomfortable,  not  come  to  rest,  lost  patience,  roved 
about,  and  never  got  to  work — which  in  fine  is  the  one 
and  only  thing  to  enthral  me  sustainedly.  Now  that  is 
overcome,  and  hope  thereby  won  for  a  turn  in  our  for- 
tunes. — 

At  the  outset  my  landlord  spread  the  news  of  my 
arrival,  and  it  got  into  the  papers  at  once  ;  but  I  won't 
let  him  admit  anyone,  and  am  enjoying  the  most  com- 
plete retirement.  People  in  Vienna  naturally  jumped  to 
the  conclusion  that  Lohengrin  had  prompted  me  to  an 


378          RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

attempt  to  get  permission  to  go  there  ;  but  everything 
that  has  come  to  your  ears  to  that  effect,  of  course,  is 
mere  false  rumour  without  the  smallest  foundation.  On 
the  contrary,  I  am  only  too  glad  to  be  left  at  peace  here. 
True,  they  demanded  my  pass  a  second  time,  and  I  began 
to  fear  lest  demurs  would  be  raised  to  my  remaining 
longer  ;  but  the  police  returned  it  to  me — very  flatteringly 
addressed,  in  fact,  "to  the  renowned  Herr  R.W." — with 
the  assurance  that  no  objection  had  been  discovered  to  my 
unmolested  residence  in  Venice.  Consequently  I  am  now 
enjoying  full  asylum. 

So  much  for  my  life  here,  good  Mutz.  Tell  Fipsel 
also,  there  are  dogs  here  too,  quite  good  ones,  both 
spaniels  and  poodles.  They  set  out  marble  basins  every- 
where for  the  dear  good  beasts  to  drink  from,  and  I  often 
catch  the  good  chaps  at  it.  Tell  Jacquot  I  haven't  yet 
quite  found  his  like  ;  but  when  I  open  one  of  the  windows 
in  my  bedroom  of  a  morning,  I  always  pay  my  respects  to 
a  pair  of  canaries  placed  in  front  of  a  window  at  right 
angles  to  mine,  so  that  I  can  almost  reach  across  to  them. 
They  know  me  already,  and  no  longer  are  frightened. 
But— I'm  providing  myself  with  nothing,  neither  bird  nor 
dog,  but  remain  faithful  to  our  own  good  beasties.  So  I 
hope  Fipps  in  especial  will  keep  faithful  to  me,  and  give 
me  a  hearty  good  lick  when  I  see  him  again,  which  shan't 
be  such  an  eternity  off. 

To  yourself,  dear  Minna,  I  have  to  say  that  you  do 
wrong  to  make  light  of  compassion  ;  which  can  only  arise 
from  your  understanding  something  erroneous  by  it.  All 
our  relations  with  others  have  but  one  foundation,  either 
sympathy  or  decided  antipathy  :  community  of  grief  and 
joy  makes  out  the  true  essence  of  love  ;  but  community 
of  joy  is  something  most  illusory,  for  there  is  little 


FROM    VENICE  379 

reasonable  ground  at  all  upon  this  earth  for  joy,  and  our 
fellow-feeling  has  a  solid  footing  only  when  directed  to 
another's  grief.  For  my  part,  in  all  my  relations  to 
whatsoever  persons,  I  no  longer  wish  for  anything  ex- 
cepting that  they  shall  not  suffer  on  account  of  me  ;  but 
where  I  feel  this,  it  peremptorily  drives  me  to  sympathy. 
Neither  do  I  ask  anything  more,  than  to  be  able  to 
assuage  the  sufferings  of  others  for  me.  Nothing,  nothing 
— beyond  ! 

Enough  of  that.  Carlsruhe,  of  course,  was  a  mere 
project  ;  I'm  very  pleased  at  your  intending  to  set  up  in 
Dresden.  I  wrote  to  Tichatscheck  about  it  yesterday  ; 
Dresden,  after  all,  is  the  only  place  where  I'm  at  home, 
so  to  speak — everywhere  else  I'm  abroad.  Do  so,  and 
write  me  all  about  it  soon.  And  give  my  heartiest 
remembrances  to  your  people,  make  your  mind  easier  and 
easier,  sleep  well,  and  console  with  reports  on  your  feeling 
better  your  good  Husband  who  greets  you  most  heartily 
and  with  sincere  fellow-feeling.  Farewell,  and  send  good 
tidings  soon  ! — 

148.* 

VENICE,  22.  October  1858. 

MY  GOOD  MINNA, 

1  have  this  moment  received  your  letter,  and 
hurriedly  sit  down  to  answer  you  forthwith  on  the  most 
urgent  point — our  things.— 

Simply  write  at  once  to  Zurich  ;  whatever  you  want, 
you  will  promptly  receive.  I  told  you  the  last  time  that 
that  injunction  was  merely  a  passing  stupidity  of  the 
creditors  involved,  set  aside  as  soon  as  ever  I  heard  of  it. 


*  At  least  one  letter  must  be  missing  between  this  and  the  last ;  see 
the  allusion  on  page  381. — Tr. 


380  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

I  only  needed  to  commission  Heim  to  acknowledge  the 
bills  in  my  name — so  far  as  they  should  be  found  correct 
— and  the  injunction  was  removed  at  once.  Believe  me, 
I  wouldn't  conceal  anything  from  you.  It  was  annoying 
enough  ;  but  it's  over. — So,  get  sent  you  whatever  you 
wish. 

—I'm  curious  to  learn  about  Furrer's  behaviour.  I 
sent  Heim  an  open  letter,  which  he  was  to  read  aloud  to 
that  low  person — perhaps  through  Spyri — if  possible  in 
presence  of  the  men  concerned  :  a  letter  in  which  I 
demand  of  him  that  he  shall  beg  your  pardon  ;  but  Heim 
hasn't  let  me  hear  anything  further  yet.  I  wrote  for  my 
coverlet  also  ;  I  need  it  much,  as  my  bedroom  is  splendid 
for  summer,  but  not  for  the  winter,  and  I  wouldn't  give 
much  for  the  heating. — 

When  you  arrive  in  Dresden,  you  shall  find  a  longer 
letter  from  me  at  Tichatscheck's,  which  will  supply  you 
with  further  news  about  myself  and  Venice.  If  my 
pocket  permits,  I  shall  accompany  it  with  views  of  sundry 
parts  of  Venice.  Anyhow  I  have  already  been  hunting 
some  up  at  the  shops  for  you.—- 

Really  it's  too  cruel  of  you  in  our  old  age,  to  be 
wanting  to  divide  up  our  estate  ;  it  will  end  by  your 
letting  me  starve  when  my  other  operas  cease  paying  and 
I've  nothing  but  Rienzi  to  fall  back  on.  For  the  present 
I  must  beg  you  to  allow  me  from  your  undisputed  pro- 
perty [Rienzi,  jocularly;  see  pp.  386,  395]  enough  to  pay  off  Heim 
and  Zurich  bills,  and  to  be  able  to  live  on  till  Tristan. 
When  the  Tristan  comes  along,  I'll  hand  you  over  some 
of  that  in  turn,  and  thus,  I  fancy,  we  shall  keep  each 
other  going.  But  joking  apart,  I  hope  for  good  takings 
ere  long  from  my  ancient  Rienzi  ;  which  will  really  come 
in  very  handy.  Breslau  has  paid  me  already.  What  I 


FROM    VENICE  381 

get  from  Hanover,  will  go  to  Heim  straight  off.  Pre- 
suming on  my  new  friendship  with  Lachner,  I  have  got 
Munich  also  after  it  now,  and  am  hoping  that  will  come 
off ;  then  others  will  soon  follow  suit.  No  one  has  sent 
me  a  refusal  yet,  merely  puttings  off;  I  hope  to  get 
Frankfort  and  Prague  after  it  yet,  though,  whilst  Darm- 
stadt also  has  to  send  its  fee.— 

Well,  no  doubt  you  can  manage  awhile  with  the  looojr. 
from  Ritters  for  the  present.  Just  pay  Frau  Hanel,  but 
don't  let  that  make  you  buy  yourself  anything  inferior 
to  what  you  ought  to  have,  I  beg  you  for  my  sake.  I 
really  don't  draw  any  hard  and  fast  line  for  you,  and 
whatever  you  need  you  may  be  sure  of  obtaining  at  once 
from  me  ;  don't  be  so  absurd  !  — 

Your  throwing  that  Rottdorf  ' '  houselet ' '  in  my  face 
is  just  what  I  might  have  expected  ;  it  came  from  my 
merely  thinking  of  our  former  little  flat  there,  and  your 
meaning  to  take  precisely  such  another  in  it.  Forgive 
my  belittlement  of  the  big  house  ! 

For  that  matter,  I  could  earnestly  wish  you — once 
more — to  come  to  rest  at  Dresden,  the  sooner  the  better. 
I  quite  understand  that,  with  Klarchen's  familiarity  with 
our  [moral]  relations,  a  harping  on  recent  occurrences 
was  less  to  be  avoided  than  at  Zwickau  ;  but  that  is  just 
what  I  should  like  to  see  prevented.  There  is  nothing 
more  foolish  and  cruel,  than  the  constant  tearing  open  of 
such  wounds,  and  only  with  reluctance  do  I  allude  to  it  in 
this  letter  myself.  Dear  Mutz,  come  to  rest  ;  endeavour 
not  to  think  of  what  has  tortured  you  and  is  to  be  over- 
come for  good.  Believe  me,  I  now  am  living  [solely]  for 
my  art  and  the  heartfelt  wish  to  make  your  life  as  sup- 
portable and  agreeable  as  possible  in  future.  Nothing  shall 
shake  my  resolutions,  not  even  yourself  when  you  try  to 


382  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

provoke  me.  I  shall  even  overcome  your  contradictions. 
—I  regard  the  world  otherwise  now,  than  but  a  few  years 
since,  and  can  truly  say,  I  feel  that  I've  been  tested  in  a 
higher  sense  at  last.  Let  this  be  evidence  to  you  of  what 
I  mean  :  that  I  can  report  how  much  better  and  calmer  I 
feel  now,  in  every  respect.  For  some  time  now  I  have 
unintermittently  had  such  beautiful  sound  sleep  as  I've 
hardly  ever  known  before.  Oh,  if  I  only  could  lend  it 
you,  how  soon  you  would  get  well  !  But  believe  me, 
this  health  and  recovery  doesn't  come  from  without  or 
through  physic  ;  it  comes  from  nowhere  but  within  :  my 
retirement  and  profound  collectedness  refresh  me,  give  me 
deep  tranquillity  and  peace.  If  you  look  without  for  any- 
thing, hold  fast  to  me  alone  !  And  if  you  would  console 
yourself  for  all  you've  suffered,  hold  fast  to  it  that  my  heart 
has  stayed  good  to  you,  and — surely  you  can  see  it  ! — 
will  stand  unflinching  by  your  side.— 

Enough  !  I  hope  for  the  production  of  Tristan  at 
Carlsruhe  toward  Easter  ;  then  we  shall  meet  again,  and 
all  the  rest  will  arrange  itself  kindly  and  well. 

Farewell,  and  rely  on 

Thy  good  HUSBAND. 

149. 

VENICE,  28.  October  1858. 

MY  GOOD  MUTZ, 

I  sent  off  the  views  of  Venice  yesterday  ;  I  hope 
you  will  find  them  on  your  arrival  in  Dresden,  where  I 
also  hope  you  will  come  to  a  little  rest  soon.  I've  had  no 
further  tidings  of  you  since  your  last  ;  I  should  have  been 
glad  if  Troger  had  written  me,*  but  shall  henceforth  go 


*   His   prognosis  reached   Wagner    three  days  later;  see   the  entry  in 
the  Venice  Diary  for  November  i  (A'.  Wagner  to  ill.  WesendoncK). — Tr. 


FROM    VENICE  383 

by  Pusinelli.— Everything  within  me  is  becoming  so  calm 
now,  that  I  keep  hoping  you  must  also  share  that  happi- 
ness ere  long.— 

To-day,  however,  I  intended  to  amuse  you  a  little 
with  Venice.  The  pictures  will  do  the  best  for  that.  I 
have  sent  the  chief  views  coloured,  although  they're  not 
exactly  works  of  art  ;  only,  with  Venice  the  vivid  colour- 
ing has  so  much  to  do  with  the  effect,  that  one  can  really 
form  no  notion  of  it  from  mere  black  outlines.  The 
Doge's  Palace  and  church  of  S.  Mark  look  just  as  bright 
and  dazzling  in  reality,  as  in  the  pictures.  I  have  marked 
the  photographs  on  their  backs  ;  a  portion  of  my  palace 
comes  into  one  of  them,  though  unfortunately  not  the 
part  in  which  I  dwell  :  still,  it  will  give  you  some  idea. 
On  the  big  bird's-eye  view  of  Venice  I  have  made  a  red 
cross  where  my  palace  stands  ;  going  up  the  Grand  Canal 
you  must  keep  to  the  left,  and  at  the  first  big  bend  you'll 
find  it. 

I  also  have  enclosed  a  folk-group  that  pleased  me 
most  ;  these  are  the  feminine  water-carriers,  who  really 
have  a  very  original  look.  The  other  women  of  the 
people  do  not  shew  up  to  their  advantage,  and  in 
particular  would  be  improved  by  some  sort  of  head-gear, 
which  I  miss  in  them  greatly.  True,  they  expend  very 
much  art  on  their  coiffure,  and  that  is  why  they  go  about 
bare-headed  ;  but  unfortunately  the  good  girls  can't  tidy 
up  their  hair  except  on  Sunday,  and  never  again  in  the 
week,  so  that  of  a  Saturday  they  look  like  tousled  hags. 
Among  the  men,  the  sailors  are  often  very  interesting  ; 
striking  physiognomies,  with  red  caps  a  la  Stumnie  von 
Portici.  But  your  subscriber  chiefly  mixes  with  the 
gondoliers,  who  naturally  play  a  big  role  in  Venice  ;  they 
try  to  overcharge  you  when  they  can,  but  I  am  already 


384  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

well  known  in  my  district  and  no  longer  treated  by  them 
as  a  foreigner,  which  makes  it  easier  and  cheaper  for  me. 
They  all  have  fine,  clear,  powerful  voices.  Nothing  is 
more  thrilling,  than  when  one  hears  a  solitary  gondolier 
on  the  Canal  at  night  suddenly  begin  with  plaintive 
accent  "O  Venezia  !  "  etc.  ;  it's  quite  unique.  Then 
one  hears  them  answering  one  another  from  the  distance 
with  a  kindred  chant,  until  it  dies  away  ;  which  has 
quite  an  indescribable  effect.  Moreover,  there  is  a  regular 
Gondoliers-  Vocal  Union,  with  a  workman  at  the  Arsenal 
for  conductor  and  composer  ;  the  voices  are  wonderfully 
sonorous  and  robust.  For  the  upper  part  they  have  altos, 
which  lends  their  singing  quite  a  novel  character  ;  and 
then  they  sing  the  most  diverse  kinds  of  ballads  in  the 
folk-style,  all  with  incredible  precision,  purity  of  intonation 
and  nuance.  They  usually  get  hired  by  strangers  to  make 
a  slow  tour  of  the  whole  Canal  on  a  gondola  lit  with 
coloured  lanterns  ;  which  is  followed  by  a  lengthening  train 
of  boats  with  listeners,  amid  great  silence,  and  actively 
applauded  from  the  windows.  They  have  often  entertained 
me,  011  my  balcony,  very  finely  in  this  fashion.  — 

That  sort  of  thing  here  constitutes  the  limit  of  my 
enjoyment  from  without  ;  otherwise  I  adhere  to  my 
retirement,  and  see  no  one  but  Karl.  I  have  to  keep  off 
[would-be]  friends  by  force  ;  the  other  day,  however,  a 
prince  pursued  me  down  the  Square,  and  regularly  button- 
holed me.  This  time  1  didn't  regret  it  :  it  was  the  Russian 
Prince  Dolgontki,  who  really  is  a  very  clever  and  highly- 
cultured  man  ;  he  told  me  a  lot  about  Lohengrin,  which 
he  had  seen  in  Vienna,  and  gave  me  many  very  interesting 
details.  As  he  is  soon  going  away,  I  make  an  exception 
of  him,  and  have  allowed  him  to  call.  Otherwise  I'm 
merciless  ;  I  have  had  a  Count  Kalenbers:  dismissed  twice 


FROM   VENICE  385 

over.  Already  I  am  as  well  known  to  the  Austrian  officers 
as  a  spotted  dog  ;  they  always  make  for  Karl  to  get  my 
news.  Unfortunately  I  have  been  unable  to  avoid  coming 
into  contact  with  the  local  military  bandmasters.  Perhaps 
you  know  that  the  Austrian  military  bands  are  excellent  ? 
Well,  there  are  three  of  them  here,  which  take  it  in  turns 
to  play  in  S.  Mark's  square  of  an  evening,  when  the  whole 
of  Venice  is  on  its  legs.  One  of  these  bandmasters  got 
round  my  landlord,  but  I  had  him  turned  away.  In  the 
evening  I  heard  the  Tannhauser  march  performed  by  him, 
however,  and  the  dragging  tempo  vexed  me  ;  so  I  sent 
him  word  that  the  next  time  he  gave  anything  of  mine 
he  must  let  me  know  first,  that  I  might  shew  him  the 
correct  tempo  etc.  He  promptly  fetched  me  to  a  rehearsal 
of  the  Tannhauser  overture,  for  military  band  !  That 
was  in  barracks,  and  all  the  officers  dropped  in.  It  really 
went  quite  well,  against  all  expectation. — But  then  the 
bandmaster  of  the  Royal  Marines  got  hold  of  Karl,  and 
begged  him  to  persuade  me  just  to  honour  him  as  well  : 
he  wanted  to  perform  the  overture  to  Rienzi.  What  else 
could  I  do?  I  had  to  go  off  to  the  Marine  barracks, 
where  a  regular  high-ceremonial  reception  awaited  me, 
all  the  officers  en  masse.  The  overture  went  very  well ; 
I  heard  it  from  the  restaurant  with  Karl,  over  dessert 
and  half  a  bottle  of  champagne  [Liszt's  birthday,  Oct.  22].— 
Next  day  the  bandmaster  of  the  Hungarian  regiment 
announced  himself,  with  pieces  from  Lohengrin  :  but  I 
dismissed  him  for  the  nonce. — 

There — those  are  about  all  my  adventures  ;  otherwise 
everything  is  going  very  uniformly.  I  am  glad  to  be  back 
at  my  work  ;  I'm  at  it  hard,  and  even  take  the  evenings 
now  for  instrumenting.  It  is  all  becoming  very  beautiful  ! 

I  have  heard  nothing  decent  from   abroad  for  ever  so 
VOL,   i  25 


386  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

long  ;  for  some  time  past  no  news  at  all,  or  else  unfavour- 
able.     Unfortunately,   things  will  not  go  so  swimmingly 
with  u  your"  Rienzi  as  could  be  wished.      They  all  would 
prefer  something  new  of  mine  ;   but  the  worst  is,  that  the 
curs,  subject  gives  such  trouble.      The  day  before  yester- 
day I  received  a  great  shock  through  it  ;   I  was  already 
expecting  the  fee  from  Munich,  and  rejoicing  in  the  ability 
to  forward  Heim  his  cash  at  once,  when  L,achner  writes 
me  :    Unfortunately    the  reading  committee  has  decided 
that,  in  view  of  the  present  rigorously  Catholic  trend  at 
Munich,  the  production  of  Rienzi  would  be  quite  out  of 
the  question  on  account  of  the  religious  topics  occurring 
in  it,  and  accordingly  the  score  cannot  be  accepted.      That 
was  a  knock-down  blow,  and  I  fear  it  will  be  exactly  the 
same  in  Austria  ;  even  of  Prague  I've  no  more  hope  now. 
What  makes  things  worse,  is  the  subject's  having  a  political, 
as  well  as  an  ecclesiastic  splinter.       That,    at  any  rate,  is 
to    be  feared  no  more  with  my  poorer,    later  and  latest 
works   (a    rub    for    you  !).       Even    that    wearisome    dolt 
Ed.  Devrient  has  treated  me  to  a  refusal  ;   he  is  again  on 
the  eve — so  he  writes  me — of  breaking  with  Carlsruhe  ! 
What  a  chapter  of  absurd  confusions  !      I  must  try  and 
pull  through,  however,  and  so  am  very  busy  correspond- 
ing ;   but  thus  much  is  certain— rl  cannot  coiint  much  on 
Rienzi,   as  you  will  see.      My  Tristan,    on    the  contrary, 
will   go    off  next  year   like   hot  cakes  ;   even  now  I  am 
continually  having  to  mollify  theatres  all  clamouring  for 
the  first  performance.      Thus    Darmstadt,   also    Munich  ; 
I've  had  to  promise  Prague  at  least  to  give  them  second 
place  with  this  opera's  production. — For  Rienzi  my  main 
hope  now  is  Hanover  ;  but  I've  had  nothing   from  there 
as  yet.      Don't  you  get  anxious,  however,  and  deny  your- 
self nothing  ;   it  will  all  come  right  ! — 


FROM   VENICE  387 

And  now  be  heartily  welcomed  to  Dresden  !  Lord, 
how  delighted  I  shall  be  to  hear  that  you're  getting 
a  little  rest  and  some  comfort  in  your  provisional  small 
abode  !  It  will  come  for  certain,  poor  dear  Mutz  ;  your 
health,  so  much  dependent  on  your  frame  of  mind,  will 
gradually  improve  ;  the  most  distressing  symptoms  will 
vanish  step  by  step,  and  you'll  draw  courage  and  pleasure 
from  life  again.  I  build  great  hopes  on  Dresden  ;  much 
will  suit  you  there,  for  sure,  and  if  only  you  regain  suf- 
ficient strength  to  pluck  yourself  from  troubling  fancies, 
you'll  already  have  so  much  to  reconcile  you  to  the 
present,  that  at  last  you'll  also  pluck  up  courage  for  the 
future. 

To  begin  with,  give  my  heartiest  greetings  to 
Tichatscheck  and  Frau  Pauline.  Lord  knows  how  gladly 
I'd  be  with  you  all  ! — -You  ought  to  be  pitying  me — and 
yet  I  have  to  keep  consoling  you  !  Tell  Tschekel  it's 
a  bargain  that  we're  to  be  chiselled  for  Dresden.*  And 
greet  Heine  and  Fischer  ;  I'm  going  to  write  to  Pusinelli. 
And  good,  good  Fipsel,  greet  him  a  thousand  times  ;  he's 
not  to  over-eat  himself !  A  good  thing  the  red-tail 
[Jacquot  ?]  is  coming — else  !  !-- 

Now  adieu,  farewell,  good  Mutz,  and  you  shall  have 
a  thorough  good  buss  for  the  first  night's  good  sleep  you 
can  write  me  of ;  so  do  your  best,  and  hold  me  dear  ! 

Thy 

R. 

Please  tell  me  the  house-number,  and  whether  your 
lodging  is  left  or  right  of  the  parterre. — A  good  thing  you 
have  no  stairs  to  mount  ! — 


*  To  Tichatschek,  in  joke,  Sept.  27  :  "  I  mean  to  leave  directions  in  my 
will  for  setting  up  a  monument  to  the  pair  of  us  in  front  of  the  Dresden 
theatre,''  etc.  ;  see  Life,  vi,  375. — Tr. 


3§8  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

150. 

VENICE,  14.  November  1858. 

MY    DEAR    GOOD    MUTZ, 

To-day  I'm  merely  sending  you  the  most  essential 
answer  to  your  letter  just  received,  and  reserve  to  myself 
to  write  again  tomorrow  in  case  I  forget  too  much.— 

I  have  been  ill  since  the  first  of  November,  and  only 
the  last  two  days  have  I  gone  into  the  air  again  a  little, 
about  dinner-time.  For  three  days  I  was  confined  to 
bed  ;  a  gastric-nervous  fever  threatened.  The  private 
physician  of  a  Prince  Gallitzin  has  been  treating  me. 
Now  I'm  on  the  mend,  and  think  of  resuming  work  in 
a  day  or  two. 

Dear  Mutz,  I  won't  conceal  from  you  that  your  last 
letter  from  Chemnitz  had  its  share  in  the  development 
of  my  illness.  The  grief  of  seeing  you  forever  falling 
back  upon  that  chapter,  where  every  fancy  does  you 
harm,  convulsed  me  deeply.  Have  we  taken  opposite 
paths  for  a  while,  merely  to  renew  from  a  distance  those 
conflicts  which,  alas,  were  so  injurious  to  both  of  us 
when  last  we  were  together  ?  Your  letters  from  Zwickau 
touched  me  so  much,  whereas  those  from  Chemnitz  only 
shewed  me  how  recklessly  and  insanely  your  wound  was 
being  probed  again  there. 

Do  please  discard  the  fatal  notion  that  I'm  keeping 
something  up  my  sleeve  and  mean  to  break  away  from 
you  insensibly,  or  anything  like  it.  For  the  sake  of 
a  clean  slate  and  calmer  future  for  the  pair  of  us,  I 
deemed  it  best  that  we  should  separate  at  present  for 
a  season,  precisely  to  avoid  the  very  thing  you  keep 
relapsing  into,  to  my  sorrow.  Whatever  I  have  said  to 
you,  and  all  I've  adduced  in  support  of  it,  was  honestly 
and  truly  meant.  I  reproach  myself  most  bitterly  for 


FROM    VENICE  389 

having  let  the  irritation  of  the  moment  betray  me  [at 
Enge]  into  joining  issue  with  you  harshly  and  saying 
wounding  and  offensive  things  ;  it  is  tJiat  for  which  you 
have  to  forgive  me,  just  as  I  heartily  repent  it  myself. 
But  nothing  more  shall  shake  me  in  my  present  resolution 
to  keep  all  that  is  wounding  or  slighting  aloof  from  you. 
I  therefore  tell  you,  please  don't  challenge  me  again  : 
'tis  waste  of  breath,  you  will  not  draw  me  ;  I  shall 
simply  pay  you  back  with  gentleness  and  kindness.  But 
with  that  on  which  I'm  silent,  it  is  not  because  I  need  to 
circumvent  you,  but  solely  since  it  is  not  meet  (iiiclit  taugt] 
between  us,  and  must  be  absolutely  ignored  and  forgotten. 
This  is  my  only  reason  for  not  answering  on  that  point, 
believe  me  !  I  have  sworn  it  to  myself  for  good  and 
all  !- 

Only  take  heart,  my  dear  good  Minna  !  Overcome, 
and  steadfastly  believe  in  the  intense  sincerity  with  which 
I  now  aspire  to  nothing — nothing  on  this  earth  save  to 
make  up  for  what  has  been  inflicted  on  you,  support  and 
guard  you,  preserve  you  in  all  loyalty  and  love,  that 
your  suffering  state  may  also  mend,  you  may  regain  an 
interest  in  life,  and  together  we  may  then  enjoy  life's  even- 
ing as  cheerfully  and  cloudlessly  as  possible. — Dear  good 
Mutz,  what  more  can  I  say  to  you  ?  Would  not  all  else 
be  utterly  superfluous  and  vain  ? — 

Can  it  be  humanly  conceivable  that  they  are  putting 
serious  difficulties  in  the  way  of  your  residence  in 
Dresden?  I'm  dumbfounded  at  it  ! — Still,  I  keep  hoping 
it  is  nothing  but  a  mere  scruple  of  the  local  police  which 
may  easily  be  set  aside.  I  am  writing  Pusinelli  a  couple 
of  lines,  which  please  convey  to  him  at  once  ;  my  next 
step  shall  depend  on  his  answer.  I  am  determined  to 
pursue  it  [if  need  be]  right  up  to  the  King  ;  in  any  case 


390  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

I  shall  write  to  L/iitticliaii  about  it,  perhaps  within  the 
next  few  days.  My  God,  what  does  one  really  care,  tho', 
for  this  Dresden  ?  In  the  worst  event  I  would  beg  you 
to  join  me  at  Venice  immediately,  if  it  were  not  so  dread- 
ful to  let  you  and  your  pets  make  a  fresh  stiff  journey 
in  the  heart  of  winter,  and  to  tear  you  again  from  a  rest 
scarcely  entered.  The  sole  object  with  Dresden,  accord- 
ingly, is  to  afford  you  a  point  of  repose  for  this  winter, 
for  your  [medical]  tending,  diversion  and  recreation,  until 
I  can  return  to  Germany  myself;  when  we  can't  perhaps 
so  well  choose  Dresden,  after  all,  as  unfortunately  that 
stupid  old  publishing  tangle  (with  Kriete's)  hasn't  spun 
itself  off  even  yet,  making  Dresden  still  a  little  awkward 
to  me.  I  rather  think  of  our  settling  in  Berlin  or 
Vienna  ;  you  yourself  shall  have  the  casting  vote  in  that, 
as  I  am  indifferent  on  the  whole  to  the  exact  place, 
provided  only  it's  a  large  city  with  good  artistic  means. 
The  time  for  us  to  make  our  minds  up  isn't  far  off  now  ; 
as  soon  as  I  have  done  with  Tristan  I  shall  in  any  case 
be  able  to  go  to  Germany  for  a  while,  and  the  settling 
of  the  larger  question  must  necessarily  be  knit  with  that. 
But  I  anticipate  with  next-door  to  certainty  that  the 
new  change  of  Government  in  Prussia  will  expedite 
everything  ;  at  all  events  a  Prussian  amnesty  will  soon  be 
promulgated  there,  and  if  they  do  not  think  of  me  them- 
selves, I  am  determined  to  address  myself  personally 
to  the  Prince  of  Prussia  and  beg  him  to  sanction  my 
residing  in  Berlin.  I  can't  help  fancying  I  shall  receive 
an  invitation  to  Lohengrin  even  as  it  is,  which  would 
almost  plunge  me  in  perplexity — firstly,  because  it  would 
detain  me  for  long  from  the  completion  of  my  new  opera 
(which  we  really  need  to  live  upon),  and  secondly  because, 
after  these  10  years,  I  shouldn't  care  to  obtain  my  first 


FROM    VENICE  391 

hearing  of  Lohengrin  precisely  in  Berlin,  turned  to  a. 
weariness  by  their  miserable  singers,  when  I  would  far 
rather  choose  Vienna,  where  the  representation  is  said  to 
be  unsurpassably  fine.  —  But  more  about  all  that  tomorrow  ; 
for  to-day  only  thus  much  :  I  definitely  assume  that  we 
two  poor  married  folk  shall  come  together  again  from  next 
summer  onward,  no  matter  where  ! 

But  just  you  behave  !  For  God's  sake  don't  play 
havoc  with  yourself  like  a  maniac  !  Neither  be  afraid 
you  might  never  be  able  to  see  me  again  ;  Troger  has 
written  me,  and  the  only  thing  to  fear  for  you  is  a  very 
wearying  malady  if  you  do  not  yourself  help  to  abate, 
improve,  and  make  your  sufferings  bearable  through 
tranquilness  of  mind,  which  is  the  only  thing  to  help 
here.  But  you  have  just  got  to  be  a  bit  stronger  and 
sounder  when  I  see  you  again  !— 

And  now  farewell.  I  see  I've  still  a  deal  to  write  to 
you  ;  so  a  second  letter  tomorrow  ! 

Farewell,  good,  good  Mutz.  More  tomorrow  from 

Thy 


Get  a  warm  carpet  for  your  lodging  at  once  ;  /  com- 
mand it  ! 

151. 

VENICE,  14.  November  1858,  [Sunday']  evening. 

So,  my  good  Minna,  now  I  am  quieter  I'll  write  you 
again  at  once,  that  nothing  may  remain  forgotten,  and 
everything,  if  possible,  be  made  still  clearer. 

Once  more,  I  meant  to  have  wrritten  you  a  couple  of 
days  after  your  last  letter,  as  I  hoped  to  have  overcome 
by  then  the  truly  disheartening  impression  your  terribly 
excited  letter  had  produced  on  me.  Meanwhile,  however, 


392  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

.my  own  illness  became  more  and  more  critical  ;  I  lost 
all  appetite,  could  keep  nothing  down  at  last,  had  fever, 
and  was  utterly  wretched.  As  soon  as  he  heard  of  it 
through  Karl,  Prince  Dolgoruki  sent  me  Prince  Galitzin's 
private  doctor,  when  we  parried  the  outbreak  of  an 
apparently  very  bad  illness  which  seems  to  have  been 
brewing  in  me  for  a  long  time  ;  and  at  the  end  of  14  days, 
as  said,  to-day  I've  been  out  for  the  third  time  already 
and  feel  set  up  again,  only  that  I  must  still  be  very 
careful  with  my  diet.  So  that  is  done  with,  and  let  us 
hope,  for  long  ! 

Then  at  the  beginning  of  this  week  came  good,  good 
Frau  Pauline's  answer,  for  which  I  am  deeply  obliged  to 
her.  She  wrote  me  about  yourself  as  well,  saying  you 
intended  to  write  me  next  day — quite  calmly  and  nicely, 
she  hoped.  I  confess  I  waited  gladly  for  that  promised 
letter,  which  would  certainly  have  made  my  answer 
easier  ;  but  it  did  not  arrive,  alas,  until  a  few  days  later. 
You  poor  good  Wife,  for  Heaven's  sake  don't  plague 
yourself  so  shockingly  !  Never  again  will  you  move  me 
from  my  fixed  determination,  which  distance  itself  makes 
the  easier  for  me  in  its  first  stage,  since  I  there  am  master 
of  my  mood  and  able  to  consult  nothing  besides  my  duty 
to  you.  Only  believe  me,  all  else  is  quite  useless,  and — 
as  I  already  have  written  you  to-day — if  I  keep  silence  on 
certain  points,  it  is  not  that  I  have  anything  to  conceal 
from  you,  but  simply  and  solely  because  I  know  too 
profoundly  how  foolish  and  unprofitable  it  is  to  keep 
returning  to  such  a  subject,  whereas  oblivion  is  the  only 
anodyne  even  for  yourself.  Enough  of  it,  I  beg  and 
implore  you  by  all  that's  most  heartfelt  and  earnest  ; 
never  another  word  on  it  !  Attest  to  me  thus  that  you 
really  are  fond  of  me. 


FROM    VENICE  393 

Think  of  nothing  but  our  reunion,  and  to  make  that 
a  thoroughly  great  and  enduring  boon  to  both  of  us, 
attend  to  nothing  else  whatever  now  beyond  your  health  ; 
toward  which  you  can  do  nothing,  nothing  in  the  world, 
unless — you  tranquillise  your  mind  !  Fulfil  my  prayer, 
and  believe  me,  nothing  now  can  grieve  me  more  than  the 
knowledge  that  your  malady  is  positively  being  increased 
by  those  gloomy  thoughts  ;  whilst  nothing  can  more  re- 
joice me  than  to  hear  of  your  improvement,  since  it  at  the 
same -time  is  proof  to  me  that  your  mind  is  finding  ease 
about  me  and  you  are  according  me  belief.  That  you  can 
only  do  by  firmly  carrying  out  the  instant  resolution  not 
to  speak  another  word  on  that  which  still  is  so  unsettling 
you,  and  that  to  no  one ;  then  it  at  last  will  happen  of 
itself  that  you  won't  think  so  much  about  it,  until  it 
finally  will  vanish  from  you  like  a  murky  shadow,  and  in 
its  place  the  Present  shall  approach  with  fostering,  up- 
lifting, liberating  hands.  Open  your  eyes,  and  look  un- 
prejudiced on  all  that  can  afford  you  joy,  amusement, 
occupation.  Gladden  yourself  with  the  performances  of 
my  operas,  and — if  you  really  must  have  something  to 
unsettle  you — be  thoroughly  impatient  in  your  expectation 
of  my  license  to  return  at  last,  to  present  my  works  in 
person  and  restore  myself  to  the  exercise  of  my  art.  At 
Zurich  we  were  far  too  buried  and  thrown  upon  our  own 
resources  ;  in  the  long  run  that  was  bound  to  act  in- 
juriously and  set  us  grousing.  Once  we  are  back  in  a 
big  city,  where  I  can  busy  myself  with  performances,  and 
you  can  tend  me  after  tiring  labours  and  rejoice  with  me 
at  their  success, — it  will  seem  to  yourself  all  a  dream  that 
we  ever  were  tucked  into  a  crib  like  that  and  only  with 
an  effort  could  get  a  reasonable  guest  or  two  into  the 
house  from  time  to  time.  Well,  well,  all  that  will  alter 


394          RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

and  a  whole  new  life  begin,  full  of  honours,  fame  and 
recognition,  as  much  as  ever  I  desire  ;  so  get  yourself  in 
trim  to  enjoy  this  harvest  with  me  after  a  long  and 
arduous  seedtime.  Keep  this  future  in  eye,  and  if  you 
will,  be  thoroughly  impatient  for  it  to  come  about  at  last : 
that  sort  of  impatience  won't  harm  you  at  all  ;  on  the 
contrary,  it  will  heal  and  regale  you  ! — And  it  won't  be 
long  in  coming  now  ;  only  give  me  free  leisure  to  finish 
my  Tristan — which,  if  I'm  left  undistracted,  will  be  done 
by  next  Spring — and  my  return  into  Germany  is  ensured 
me  already.  Perhaps  it  will  come  even  sooner  ;  but 
should  it  chance  that  I'm  not  let  return  at  all  (which  of 
course  is  inconceivable  !) — why,  then  you  must  return  to 
me,  and  we  should  have  to  say  Valet  to  the  pleasant 
prospect  of  Germany.  Then  we  should  have  to  transplant 
ourselves  to  Paris,  where  I  should  push  the  presentation 
of  my  operas  with  all  my  might,  and  in  the  meantime 
Tristan  must  provide  us  with  the  means  to  live  agreeably 
there.  So,  if  I  am  not  amnestied  by  next  summer,  you 
would  come  to  me  again  with  dog  and  bird,  and  we'd  defini- 
tively emigrate  to  Paris  ;  which  I  should  never  quit  again, 
however,  even  if  I  were  amnestied  later. — 

Well,  only  don't  grow  too  impatient,  good  Mutzinius  ; 
that  also  is  not  well. — No,  my  own  temper  is  so  calm  and 
steady  now,  my  outlook  on  the  world  so  clear  and  void  of 
hate,  that  I  shall  get  on  very  well  with  it  henceforward  ; 
only  you,  poor  Wife,  disquiet  me  :  nothing — nothing  else  ! 
— so  calm  yourself,  too,  and  nothing  then  will  lack  me 
any  more. — • 

But  it  is  imperative  that  I  should  get  done  with  this 
confounded  Tristan  ;  it  must  bring  us  in  much  grist  next 
year.  Rienzi  unfortunately  refuses  to  go  down  at  all  !  I 
really  had  been  reckoning  on  Hanover  for  certain  ;  but, 


FROM    VENICE  395 

apart  from  Breslau,  not  a  theatre  has  taken  it  in  earnest 
yet,  and  we  should  have  a  very  poor  look-out  if  I  had 
written  none  besides  this  opera  of  yours  !  You  know  I 
had  to  pay  Heim  back  his  1000  fr.  last  month  ;  I  had 
counted  on  Hanover,  but  nothing  came  in, — -then  my 
good  Tannhauser  (already  a  long  way  off  being  so  good  as 
Rienzi !)  helped  once  again  :  the  Stuttgart  people  addressed 
themselves  to  me  for  it  at  last.  You  know  that  I  had 
strictly  meant  to  keep  them  dangling,  but  I  grappled  to 
and  wrote  that  if  they  sent  me  50  louis  d'or  at  once,  they 
could  have  the  opera,  so  far  as  I  cared  ;  I  received  their 
cash  at  once,  and  was  able  to  repay  Heim  in  the  nick 
of  time.  Good  old  Tannhauser  !  rotten  Rienzi  ! — At 
Pesth,  too,  they  want  to  have  Tannhauser.  I've  offered 
Lohengrin  to  Cassel.  Dingelstedt  writes  about  Rienzi 
for  Weimar — naturally  only  with  Tichatscheck  ;  probably 
that  will  remain  my  last  transaction  with  Rienzi. — But 
that  is  not  to  say  that  things  are  standing  badly  with  us  ; 
Tannhauser  and  Lohengrin  are  still  inexhaustible.  Only 
the  other  day  there  was  another  Berlin  performance  of  the 
former  ;  consequently  another  tantieme,  which  the  entirely 
good  Minna  shall  have  for  New  Year's  gift.  Lohengrin 
also  is  bound  to  be  coming  out  there  soon,  and  even 
though  the  advance  must  be  worked  off  first,  still  there 
will  be  good  receipts  to  expect  from  Berlin  again  by  Easter. 
And  by  then  I  shall  have  finished  my  Tristan  (God 
willing  !)  and  pocket  another  100  louis  d'or  from  Hartels. 
I  also  hope  to  get  a  supplementary  500  gulden  for 
Lohengrin  from  Vienna  this  winter  itself ;  there  have 
been  12  performances  already,  at  the  least,  and  they  have 
to  pay  me  again  after  the  aoth.  Moreover,  Tannhauser  is 
set  down  for  next  season  at  Vienna  ;  consequently  I  must 
be  getting  my  1000  gulden  again  for  it  in  the  summer. 


396  RICHARD    TO    MINNA    WAGNER 

Then  will  come  Tristan,  which  everybody  wants  to  be  the 
first  to  have,  and  doubtless  will  bring  me  in  a  tidy  sum 
in  no  time.— 

It  is  Vienna  that  gives  me  most  delight,  though. 
Kirchberger  [Alex.  Winterberger],  the  pupil  of  Liszt's 
who  was  with  him  at  Zurich  two  years  ago,  has  arrived 
here — with  a  Russian  princess  whose  sons  he  is  teaching. 
He  has  seen  all  the  Vienna  performances  of  Lohengrin, 
after  hearing  it  often  at  Weimar,  and  says  it  would  be 
quite  impossible  to  imagine  anything  more  perfect  and 
entrancing, — compared  with  Weimar  (in  spite  of  Liszt  !) 
he  absolutely  would  not  have  recognised  the  opera  :  all, 
all  were  so  excellent,  from  the  first  to  the  last,  that  it  was 
one  continual  transport  ;  Ander  as  Lohengrin  bewitching, 
and  everything,  orchestra,  chorus  and  all,  unsurpassable. 
Prince  Dolgoruki  confirmed  that  also.  And  above  all,  the 
success  !  How  would  that  have  formerly  been  possible 
in  Vienna  with  Lohengrin  straight  off?  The  audience  is 
said  to  applaud  like  mad,  and  each  representation  to  be  a 
perfect  festival. — I  confess,  it  would  give  me  joy,  at  last  to 
hear  a  thing  like  that.  Naturally  I  have  acquired  a  great 
predilection  for  Vienna,  and  the  place — I  think — would 
also  please  yourself.  Well,  we  shall  see  ;  only  not  too 
impatient  !  But  one  of  these  fine  days  all  will  suddenly 
become  magnificent,  and  we  shall  stare  at  each  other  and 
ask  in  amaze,  Where,  wherever  have  we  been  all  this 
time  ?  Were  we  dreaming  ? — 

There  now,  I've  picked  up  nearly  all  I  know  about 
myself  to  tell  you  ;  may  it  please  you  to  some  extent  ! — 
Just  as  winter  has  descended  on  the  whole  of  Europe,  so 
on  Venice  too.  What  as  a  rule  one  experiences  very 
seldom  even  in  the  hardest  winter  here,  actually  came  at 
the  beginning  of  November  :  snow  lay  on  the  ground  for 


FROM   VENICE  397 

several  days  !  Not  bad.  And  then  the  poor  protection 
of  abodes  here,  ridiculous  stoves,  etc.  ;  it  was  awful.  I've 
been  having  fires  all  day  long,  especially  during  my  illness, 
and  wood  is  the  reverse  of  cheap  here.  It's  really  getting 
time  that  we  were  done  with  it  !  Now  I  have  had 
windows  and  doors  duly  protected  with  list,  the  stoves 
repaired,  and  at  last  it's  quite  comfortable  ;  moreover  the 
weather  has  turned  mild  again. — For  God's  sake,  do  keep 
yourself  sheltered  !  I  expected  it,  those  d — d  parterre 
apartments  aren't  fit  for  winter.  Mind  you  have  a 
thoroughly  warm  carpet  laid  at  once,  else  you  shan't  have 
that  New  Year's  tantieme  ! — But  that  fearfully  good 
Pauline,  isrft  she  good  ?  It's  almost  more  than  one  can 
bear,  so  good  as  that  !  What  you  write  me  about  her  has 
rejoiced  me  exceedingly  ;  moreover  it  has  done  me  an 
amount  of  good  it  can  scarcely  have  done  even  yourself, 
to  know  that  you  are  surrounded  by  such  kind  people. 
Only  see  a  lot  of  the  Tschekels  ;  they'll  soon  drive  away 
all  your  doldrums,  and  help  [to  divert]  your  impatience. -- 

So  you  haven't  been  to  Heine's  or  Fischer's  yet? 
Soared  straight  to  Laittichau  !  Well,  I'm  glad  to  hear 
that  he  expressed  himself  so  nicely.  O,  if  the  man  had 
only  treated  me  a  shade  more  delicately  then,  as  is  fitting 
with  an  artist  of  my  stamp,  how  much  might  have 
happened  quite  differently,  or  never  have  happened  at  all  ! 
But,  oblivion  of  that  as  well  !  I  harbour  no  ill-feeling 
against  anybody  now. — For  sure  he'll  send  you  decent 
tickets  ;  otherwise  Devil  take  him,  and  you'll  proudly  pay 
your  money  for  the  amphitheatre — that  is  self-under- 
stood.— 

I  cannot  yet  conceive  their  raising  serious  difficulties 
against  your  stay  in  Dresden  ;  but  your  having  to  go  to 
the  police-court  yourself  is  really  shocking  !  The  Devil, 


398          RICHARD    TO    MINNA   WAGNER 

is  there  no  one  who  at  once  will  see  to  all  this  rumpus  in 
your  stead  ?  There  I  recognise  the  seamy  side  of  Dresden 
at  a  glance.  Pusinelli  must  undertake  it  ;  he  is  the  most 
suitable  person  :  in  case  of  need  he  is  to  recommend  you 
a  good  lawyer  who  will  take  the  whole  thing  off  your 
hands.  It  quite  revolts  me  to  think  of  your  going  your- 
self !- 

For  the  rest,  the  fact  of  Zschinsky's  place  as  Minister 
of  Justice  not  being  filled  yet  is  a  good  sign'  to  me  :  they 
are  waiting  to  see  what  Prussia  means  to  do  about  the 
amnesty,  to  shape  their  course  accordingly.— 

And  now  farewell  for  to-day  ;  may  you  very  soon  give 
me  the  unspeakable  joy  of  your  writing  me  quite  calmly, 
trustfully  and  hopefully  !  Greet  Fipsel  and  Jacquot,  the 
good,  good  beasts  ;  I  often  dream  of  them  as  well.— I 
shall  write  a  couple  of  lines  to  N.  myself.- — And  in 
conclusion,  another  hearty  salute  and  kiss  from 

Thy  good 

HUSBAND. 


END  OF  VOL.    i 


Printed  and  bound  by  Hazcll,  Watson  &•  Viney,  Ld.,  London  and  Aylesbury. 


Charles  Scribner's  Sons'  Publications 

WAGNER  LITERATURE. 

Richard  to  Minna  Wagner 
(Letters  to  his  first  Wife). 

Translated  by  WILLIAM  ASHTON  ELLIS. 
With  Two  Portraits.     2  Vols.     Demy  8vo.     $7.00  net. 


Richard  Wagner  to  Mathilde  Wesendonck. 
Letters  and  Leaves  from  a  Diary. 

Translated  by  WILLIAM  ASHTON  ELLIS. 
With  Portraits:and  Facsimiles.     Demy  8vo.     Cloth  extra.     $4.00  net. 

' '  We  are  presiding  over  the  creation  of  great  works  of  art,  seeing  how  they 
germinate  in  the  artist's  mind,  observing  how  they  are  modified  by  subsequent 
thought  and  experience." — Daily  Telegraph. 

"As  an  example  of  the  private  and  intimate  correspondence  of  a  great  man, 
they  will  rank  beside  Goethe's  Letters  to  Frau  von  Stein."— Scotsman. 


Correspondence   of  Wagner  and   Liszt. 

Translated  into  English,  with  a  Preface  by  Dr.  FRANCIS  HUEFFER. 

With  an  Index  by  WILLIAM  ASHTON  ELLIS. 
2  Vols.     8vo.     Cloth,  gilt  top.     $5.00  net. 

"  Nothing  more  instructive  with  regard  to  the  real  character  and  relations  of 
Liszt  and  Wagner  has  been  published.  Seldom  have  the  force  and  fervour  of 
Wagner's  German  been  rendered  with  such  accuracy  and  character  in  a  strange 
tongue." — Manchester  Guardian. 


Richard    Wagner's    Letters    to    Otto 
Wesendonck   et  al. 

Translated  and  Indexed  by  WILLIAM  ASHTON  ELLIS. 
i6mo.     Cloth,  gilt  top.     $2.00  net. 


Letters  of  Richard  Wagner  to   Emil   Heckel, 

with  a  Brief  History  of  the  Bayreuth  Festivals. 

Translated  and  Indexed  by  WILLIAM  ASHTON  ELLIS. 
i6mo.  '  Cloth,  gilt  top.     $2.00  net. 


Wagner  and  his  Works. 
The  Story  of  his  Life,  with  Critical  Comments. 

By  HENRY  T.  FINCK. 
With  Two  Portraits.     2  Vols.     Crown  8vo.     Cloth.     $4.00  net. 

"Mr.  Finck's  work  is  perhaps  the  most  exhaustive  and  appreciative  account 
of  the  great  composer  that  has  appeared  in  the  English  language." — Times, 


Richard    Wagner's    Prose    Works. 

Translated,  Prefaced,  etc.,  by  WILLIAM  ASHTON  ELLIS. 

8  Vols.     Demy  8vo.    Cloth.     $6.00  net  per  vol. 

(KECAN  PAUL,  TRENCH,  TRUBNER  &  CO.,  Ltd.) 


Life   of  Richard   Wagner. 

By  WILLIAM  ASHTON  ELLIS  (based  on  C.  F.  Glasenapp). 
Uemy  8vo.    Cloth,  gilt  top.     $6.00  net  per  vol. 

In  progress.     6  Vols.  published. 
(KECAN  PAUL,  TRENCH,  TRUBNER  &  CO.,  Ltd.) 

Letters   of   Franz    Liszt. 

Edited  and  Collected  by  LA  MARA.     Translated  by  CONSTANCE  BACHE. 
Vol.    I.      Years  of  Travel  as  Virtuoso.      With  a  Portrait. 
Vol.  II.      From  Rome  to  the  End.      With  a  Frontispiece. 

2  Vols.     Crown  8vo.     Cloth.     $5.00  net. 

"  Between  six  and  seven  hundred  letters,  every  one  of  which  is  worth 
reading,  are  reproduced  in  this  collection,  and  are  lavishly  supplemented  by 
Chronological  and  Explanatory  Notes,  which  render  the  book  extremely  valuable 
to  rrtiisicians  and  men  of  letters  as  a  work  of  reference.  Its  technical  production, 
moreover,  is  in  every  respect  exemplary." — Daily  Telegraph. 


CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS,  153-157  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York 


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